friending teachers on fb

[wilkeliza]

I'm friends with a few teachers but it was after I graduated before I friended any. This went for college and high school. I do have a strict no current coworkers either. So once a person leaves our company I'll friend them or accept the friend request that has been pending. I like to keep a pretty defined work life seperation.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I'm just curious... are you a teacher?

I'm not sure I'd want parents (who weren't friends first) knowing what was I up to on a regular basis - even though I post nothing objectionable... To each his own, I guess!

Used to be, sub now.

 

[Skippy918]

I wouldn't friend my kids teachers. Same goes for others who I have a professional relationship with, like mine or the kids doctors or current coworkers.

I am friends on fb with my former teachers though and don't see an issue with that since I've been out of high school 20+ years.

 

[cornflkgrl]

I wouldn't friend my kids teachers because...I'm happy not to have to talk to/email/ otherwise associate with them outside of school hours (with the exception of the times.I'm/they are forced to due to meetings, phone calls etc that occur regarding my darlings) As I am CERTAIN they feel the same way.

For reference, the ringtone for the school is the Imperial March.

 

[MickeySP]

I'm past kids in school have no idea on policies. I would only do it if I were friends outside the classroom.

 

[dotfurio]

There's no policy in my district. However, the only parents of students I've taught that I'm FB friends with are people who are also my coworkers and friends. I don't friend other parents and I don't friend students. I just prefer to keep my family and personal life more private. Parents of students don't need to know what's going on in my personal life, like when I'm absent because I'm at Disneyland .

 

[tvguy]

I do remember when I was a kid nearly 50 years ago (long before FAcebook) that the neighbor girls always invited their teacher to their birthday parties. And they always came. Always thought that was odd.

 

[Albort]

Answer is No. I have a few teacher friends that actually changed their names to avoid parents looking them up on Facebook. Some parents can be a little too offended too easily. less drama, the better.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If the teacher/student want to "friend" each other at the end of the school year, go for it. DD graduated 16 years ago but several members of the high school band are still friends with their director and his wife. This was an award-winning band that went on annual band trips/competitions to WDW or Disneyland, so they spent a lot of time together outside the classroom. FWIW, DH and I chaperoned two of their trips, so we're friends with the director and his wife as well.

 

[monsterkitty]

Our district has a policy that you cannot "friend" students or their parents while the student is currently enrolled in the district or under 18. That said, I do have several former students on my friends list as well as parents. I do stick to the district policy and will not friend them until after they graduate.

 

[bsblady01]

If I had facebook I would not be friends with my students parents. I would not want parents to know about my personal family life outside of school.

 

[georgina]

I'm not sure I'd want parents (who weren't friends first) knowing what was I up to on a regular basis - even though I post nothing objectionable... To each his own, I guess!

I think that's reasonable, and then you would just not accept friend requests from them?

My kids are all out of school, so I don't know what the formal policy is now, but none of their teachers would be friends with students until after they graduated. (Good idea)

I am not on Facebook, but I've known some of my kids' teachers who live in the neighborhood for many years

 

[HsvTeacher]

I'm an administrator now, but when I was a classroom teacher, I never accepted friend requests from parents unless we were actual friends before their child was in my classroom. I also didn't accept friend requests from students until they graduated from the school.

 

[BearFamily]

I teach the same students for many years in a row. I will absolutely not accept friend requests from students who are still in school, regardless of whether or not I am currently teaching them. I will not accept friend requests from parents unless I am already friends with them in real life in some other way. I teach at a very small, close, school, and many times parents of my child's friends are also the parents of older children in my classes. Our school policy is currently vague and under review.

I am very careful about what I post on FB, and never post anything school related that is negative, overly specific, etc. I also post very little in general that is hugely personal.

 

[aprilgail]

My wife isn't a teacher, but rather a front desk clerk. She learned early on that accepting friend requests from parents meant being asked to perform LOTS of work tasks outside of work. No Bueno.

I am friends with many of my daughters teachers on facebook- I can't think of ONE time I asked them to perform any type of work LOL- If I wanted to ask something about school I would email them at the school email- would never use facebook for that!

I do remember when I was a kid nearly 50 years ago (long before FAcebook) that the neighbor girls always invited their teacher to their birthday parties. And they always came. Always thought that was odd.

My daughter recently had a sweet 16 party- she invited her kindergarten teacher who we remained in touch with all these years- in fact she dedicated a candle to her in the candle lighting ceremony using the song "you lift me up". I am sure if/when she gets married she will invite her there too! My brother is teacher and he is always going to his past students weddings. He is also friends with them all on facebook but only after they graduate!

 

[bushdianee]

I personally won't friend parents while their child is in my class but will after the year is up if they send me a request. I have a few where the children are middle/high school age now. It just doesn't feel right to me. I do not friend students either. My students are way too young (6/7) to be on face book. I might friend certain students when the reach high school age.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I am friends with many of my daughters teachers on facebook- I can't think of ONE time I asked them to perform any type of work LOL- If I wanted to ask something about school I would email them at the school email- would never use facebook for that!



My daughter recently had a sweet 16 party- she invited her kindergarten teacher who we remained in touch with all these years- in fact she dedicated a candle to her in the candle lighting ceremony using the song "you lift me up". I am sure if/when she gets married she will invite her there too! My brother is teacher and he is always going to his past students weddings. He is also friends with them all on facebook but only after they graduate!

You're one of the good ones, then unfortunately, a lot of folks think nothing of bugging staff at all hours of the day/night/weekend. My wife is in charge of something the Kiwanis do with the kids & the guy from the Kiwanis calls our house to get things done. We don't ever pick up anymore. Ugh.

 

[Funfire240]

My DS just completed Kindergarten and I am friends with his teacher - but it wasn't until over halfway thru the year. She had a facebook private group set up for her class and I think she thought you had to friend a person to have them in the group. Anyways I don't mind it - she is a wonderful Kindergarten teacher and very involved with her kids. That being said, I have never discussed anything school wise with her that way - when I had a concern and for our spring conference, everything was set up through the school and there was no mention on facebook.

Now a couple years ago I ended up friends with some of the helpers and teachers at the daycare/preschool - that was interesting and opened my eyes to a lot. Some good, some not so good. Needless to say from seeing the girls who are in charge over the schoolagers over the summer and how they are - my children no longer go to this place. It opened my eyes to a lot.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

My kids high school forbids students from having a Facebook account. Private Catholic school. Been discussed here before, but it is all a part of the program that parents agree to when they enroll their children. So friending a teacher isn't an issue. Not sure if there is a policy regarding the teachers being on Facebook, although my youngest who graduated 7 years ago has said she can't find any of her teachers on Facebook.
Given that Social Media use has dropped 23% this year, maybe the fad is going away.

Not sure where you got that statistic, but you might want to check again. Social Media use is up almost 10% for 2016.

As for teachers/parents on FB I don't think it's a good idea unless you're actually friends. But then again, I don't friend people from work except under very special circumstances so it's the same idea to me.

 

[perkinsrose]

This opens up opportunity for gray area of appropriate / inappropriate information shared (accidentally or otherwise) and an unclear relationship established/defined or redefined.

I have seen more than a few problems arise in the context of Facebook with parents, students, etc. I find so much easier just not to use Facebook at all (gasp! and I'm not that old!)

I can see how some teachers use a different name or maiden name, etc. or use the privacy settings but I also have seen those fail occasionally.