Comments on: Is your kid’s teacher on Facebook?

By: teacher

teacher — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:37:33 +0000

I am a teacher with a facebook page. It is private and all my facebook “friends” are personal friends. I have had students send friend requests and have turned them down. There is nothing objectional on my facebook page but there are photos of me and friends having drinks. Nothing wrong with that but why give students and parents something to gossip about?
My personal life is none of their business.

Teachers should keep facebook pages private and turn down any friend requests from students and their parents and anyone else who is not a personal friend.

By: Eathan

Eathan — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:31:24 +0000

My kids aren't into facebook. I will say that one of my ex girlfriends is a teacher at my son's school.. but we dated before she became employed by the school. I personally wouldn't befriend any of my kids teachers unless I knew them previously. Eathan’s last blog post..Letting Your Fingers Do The Talking

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:32:59 +0000

I'm a teacher, blogger, and a member of both Facebook and MySpace, and not only is there NOTHING inappropriate on any of my profiles, but I also don't "friend" anyone even remotely connected with my students. The one exception is a former student who is now in college, and the difference is that we also knew each other through the same Irish dance school we both danced with. I do regret "friending" her, though--not because of any of my stuff, but because of hers...I just don't need to know all that stuff about her. TMI, if you get my drift. A guy I dated (with whom I work) did date the mother of one of his students (only a year after she was in his class) and he was NOT looked favorably upon by his colleagues because of it. NOT a good idea, under any circumstances. Heather’s last blog post..The waiting game.

By: theprisonerswife

theprisonerswife — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:59:11 +0000

i'm a teacher, blogger, and facebook member. i'm also on AIM & twitter & other net sources. i do not give out my info to the kids. plenty of times they've (students) asked for my AIM username and i always tell them no, i don't have kids as my friends. as long as you remember that whatever you put on the net is accessible to EVERYONE, no matter how private your profile is...you're cool. theprisonerswife’s last blog post..I Can Almost Taste It

By: Dr. Leah

Dr. Leah — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:16:17 +0000

Wow, Alicia! That possibility never would have occurred to me. Dr. Leah’s last blog post..Is your kid’s teacher on Facebook?

By: Alicia

Alicia — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:44:31 +0000

My sister is 16, and she has told me that a group of students created a "fake" facebook profile complete with friends FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE of getting a teacher to accept a friendship request in order to see her full profile. Alicia’s last blog post..Ouchy WTF Email

By: Leah Klungness

Leah Klungness — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:12:11 +0000

Mindy Mom: What a sad memory childhood memory. When I worked as a teacher and school psychologist, there were always a couple of dads every school year who asked me out. Talk about a red flag! And a clear understanding of their skewed priorities. Teachers who dated parents lost so much credibility professionally. Endless gossip! Just never a good idea.

I agree with Avigail74. Your professionalism should never be compromised.

I’m impressed with how Anna and Sonja use Facebook features to enhance their professional status and work more effectively with kids. Bravo!

By: Anna

Anna — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:41:51 +0000

I’m a teacher with a facebook page. I am not friends with any student in our system. I’m friends with a few graduates, but I monitor what I say on everyone’s page because there are current parents that could see it, etc.

As for dating a parent, No. Never.

By: MindyMom

MindyMom — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:48:43 +0000

I've never thought of being FB friends with my kids' teachers - nor would I want to be! As for dating your kids teacher - DON'T do it. My father often hit on my teachers and I was mortified by it. As far as I know none of them ever went out with him but I think they all thought he was a creep. MindyMom’s last blog post..Flashback Friday #3

By: Sonja

Sonja — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:46:37 +0000

I'm currently in teacher training and just finished a job as a long-term sub, and I can't imagine putting anything on Facebook or elsewhere, such as a blog, that would be considered unprofessional, such as a bathing suit shot. I have heard two general rules that impact on this dilemma. 1. No dating students (most relevant for college instructors, but bears mention) or their family members. This is such a hard and fast rule that it's in the training manuals. 2. No putting anything on line that's not public, and that means for everybody, including your boss, your mother, people who don't like you, etc. Sonja’s last blog post..How to keep a blog from getting boring