Teachers and Facebook

Social networking makes me feel old school and traditional, but then again maybe I am. I understand how social networking for teachers can be beneficial but in my opinion it is detrimental when overused or used at all. Although Harriet L. Schwatz understands that, "the array of contact points made possible by various technologies can be seen as annoying and intrusive or full of possibility." I disagree with her argument that of possibility. She argues that using Facebook, text or other technology with boundaries keeps a teacher's "metaphorical office door open" in order to increase the potential for face to face conversations. In my opinion the boundary with students and teachers should be no social networking except for e-mails. Face to face conversations will happen with students regardless of technology. Teachers need appropriate boundaries with their students. Teachers have professional standards to uphold and social networking outside of school infringes on those standards.

Although I do not think that Teachers and students should use social networking outside of school it is "the reality of the world we live in, and schools should reflect this reality. We need to help students become effective communicators offline as well as online" (Ramig). Using network sites in the classroom and school are a wonderful, safe and healthy way to teach students appropriate online communication and boundaries. With the guidance of the teacher the online networking can be used to teach life skills on cyber- bullying and what is appropriate and should or should not be shared. I students will have a healthier concept of personal privacy online if as educators we teach them this in the classroom.

Teaching students appropriate ways to act and treat people online is just as crucial as teaching students how to act on the playground or in the classroom. Educators fight bullying at school, they also must fight it online. "One 2010 study by the Cyberbullying Research Center, an organization founded by two criminologist who defined bullying as "willful and repeated harm" inflicted through phones and computers, said 1 in 5 middle school students had been affected (Hoffman)." This is horrible! The alarming part is that I wouldn't be surprised if the number was actually higher. I believe that as educators we must tackle this issue with our students. The question is how? I hope that teachers and educators are determined to fight cyberbullying. No child deserves to be treated poorly by peers inside school or out.

The digital world opens up a whole new area for schools and teachers to incorporate in their classrooms. The truth is our students are living among technology, social networking and an array of digital access. Just as we as teachers act appropriately in person with our students we also must online. Just as we as teachers teach our students how to treat people in person we also must teach them how to treat people online. If the students are not taught what is appropriate how will they know that they are hurting people or crossing boundaries. Social networking can be used to benefit many things but I am afraid that in school it causes more harm than good.