Should teachers "friend" their students on FACEBOOK?

[djm99]

As many of you know, school is back in. In the last week I've gotten several "friend" request from my students on FACEBOOK. Am I mean to decline their "friendship"? Now, I don't have much on my page (some family photos - which are on my desk too), nothing I wouldn't (at some point share) but its my personal world, so I don't think I want to share with them at home on their PC's my thoughts. What do you think?

BTW, I teach high school students.

 

[C.Ann]

I think you need to ask the school if it's appropriate..

Personally, I wouldn't do it - but then again, I don't "do" Facebook anyhow..

 

[Tink888]

Nope, you aren't mean. If I were a teacher, I wouldn't friend my students on Facebook. I have several teacher friends who are Facebook friends with former students and I don't think there's anything wrong with that but I wouldn't want current students having access to my personal life. Why blur the boundary KWIM?

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'd tell the students you're flattered, but you have to keep school and personal life separate for the good of everyone. Something like that. I think you could learn stuff about your students you'd never, ever want to know. Then you would be in a stew as to what to do about it.

Just back away slowly.

 

[DVCLiz]

Absolutely not. Why open yourself up to any potential problem?

I have a couple of friends who are teachers and they NEVER friend current students. Graduates, yes - but not current students, even if they don't personally teach them.

Just a bad, bad idea, in my opinion.

 

[The Orchid]

I would consider creating two Facebook pages. Make one a personal page that is just for family and friends, and make the other for school/students. Then when a student tries to friend you on your personal account, you can reject them, but then invite them on your teacher account.

 

[taylor3297]

I am a teacher also. I do not accept current students as facebook friends. Former students I have accepted as friends on Facebook are now married and teachers themselves. Also, one of them kept the guest book at my wedding. If they ask you why, just say it is against school policy. That is what I have said and my principal stands behind us on this.

 

[Buckalew11]

No. I think you should not.

 

[bekkiz]

No, no way, no how. I'm even cautious about friending former students, and I don't teach anymore.

You don't want to know about them and their lives outside of school, and you certainly don't want them to have too much access to yours. Just ignore the request, it's not mean at all.

 

[MinnieMe87]

I have past teachers of mine on my Friends list. I would be very uncomfortable with having a current teacher on my Facebook if I were a student. Something about that screams wrong to me.

 

[GeorgiaPeach8]

I'm a high school teacher as well and I can't say it loud enough--NO!!!!!!! We don't even know the legal issues yet that will come with facebook. You would open yourself to a potentially bad situation.

I work in a very small district. Everybody knows everybody. I, on the other hand, grew up in a pretty big town and spent the first part of my teaching career in a big district. I'm amazed at how my co-workers in the small district don't draw lines well between adult and student. I like my students, want to encourage them but I have friends my own age and they are the people I facebook.

 

[WDWBarb]

No way. It's just like the boss "friending" employees. It never is a smart thing.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would consider creating two Facebook pages. Make one a personal page that is just for family and friends, and make the other for school/students. Then when a student tries to friend you on your personal account, you can reject them, but then invite them on your teacher account.

That is what my brother does- he has 2 accounts- one for family and friends and the other for students and past students- he has over 1000 past and current students on his facebook page. This summer alone he has been to 6 past students weddings!

 

[karibritt01]

Another big no here! I am constantly seeing news articles about teachers being arrested or investigated for having inappropriate or sexual relationships with their students. I think inviting the type of "personal" relationship that comes with FB is asking for trouble. Even if it is strictly a friendly relationship, it could be enough to throw up a flag for a parent or administrator. I would just tell your students that it was really sweet, but against school policy.

 

[Scurvy]

Definitely not. Former students maybe, if you're comfortable with that. But not current ones. I think it crosses a boundary that shouldn't be crossed and blurs the line between teacher and student too much.

 

[WDWBarb]

That is what my brother does- he has 2 accounts- one for family and friends and the other for students and past students- he has over 1000 past and current students on his facebook page. This summer alone he has been to 6 past students weddings!

The only thing I see that's "risky" about this...

What if someone posts something inappropriate (pictures especially) on his student-accesible Face Book page and some students see it? Sure, he can remove it, but who watches or has access to their Face Book all day long?

I think this is the part that would worry me.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

No way. It's just like the boss "friending" employees. It never is a smart thing.

Teachers and students, I say no because there are children involved...
But, boss/employee :
I'm still not sold on this....
Granted, I'm not the BIG boss, but I am the assistant boss and I have a few employees as my friends. I've always been pretty open and since my mom and my daughter are on there, I don't 'tell' much anyways, lol. I haven't had any issues yet, but I think I"m comfortable enough to say that if it got to be too weird, or I felt taken advantage of or people thought I showed favortism, I'd tell them I'd be removing them.....

 

[Cinderella94]

I'm a high school student. I'm friends with a couple of my former teachers. I wouldn't friend a current teacher. What if I said complained about their class on my status without thinking? But anyway, a lot of my teachers make students wait until after they graduate to be 'friends'. A couple teachers accept current students. My guidance counselor said that there was no "rule" the teachers had to follow about it, but it was an "ethical decision" for the teacher.

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

DW and I work as dorm parents at a private boarding school and luckily we deal with seniors in high school..so we decline all of their friend requests until after they graduate. I do it because sometimes I want to express myself or feelings on facebook through my status or what not, but I don't want the students knowing everything going on in my life. It is your personal life and allowing them to access to that just makes it harder to separate personal from school.

 

[ms.yt]

I am also a high school teacher, and I agree with everybody who has said it's not a good idea. There are several teachers in my building who see no problem with it. Of course, they are young teachers that still like to act like they are in high school, and (big surprise) they have trouble controlling their classrooms. I have told them that I think it's not a good idea to have students as your FB friends, but they still do it. They even carry on chats with them on their walls. I hope one day our personnel policy with prohibit this practice because it certainly isn't professional.

I have students find me on FB all the time and send me requests. I decline them, and if they ask why, I just tell them that I don't accept requests from students. It's as simple as that. They never really seem to mind.