Teachers on Facebook

[NHdisneylover]

2 of my friends on facebook are teachers who are friends with many of their students. I know the teachers well and knew many of their old students before we moved because the teachers run both the high school theatre program and the local community theatre program (which many of the theatrically inclined kids also participate in). I often see them use status upadtes as a way of informing the teens of what is going on:

Auditions for XYZ will be tomorrow at 7:00
Don't forget to bring hats to the dance rehearsal tonight
tickets for te show go on sale today
etc.

I have also seen the occasional post to be the adult voice in a teen drama internet storm Carefully worded things like "To my high school students, please try to calm down and remember rumors are not facts. Hold off on saying or doing anything that can come back to haunt you until after you have all the facts at school on Monday." There is NEVER enough information there for me to know what is really going on (appropriate) but I think it is good that there is an adult monitor of sorts settling down the group mentality drama and rumors once in a while.

I think adults befriending kids on Facebook is weird, unless they are the parents and they feel they need to. My MIL right now is going around all the kids Facebook trying to befriend them, all the nieces, nephews, grandkids, etc., and it drives me crazy. She is on my niece and nephews' and then she goes around and gossips about it, etc, trying to be nosey, etc. I have people lately, old school friends, etc., trying to get me to join and I'm considering it, but I will not befriend my MIL or the nieces, nephews, etc., in my family. I think it's weird and also I don't want them to know what we were like in the 70's and 80's either, lol.

I totally disagree. I do not think it is at all weird that my DD13 has more adult friends than kids on her page (she only has about 15 friends all together). She does not friend local people (expect one girl scout leader who uses facebook to get information to the girls quickly and easily) because she likes "real" contact better.
We live in Germany and our family and close friends are scattered in Mexico, New Hampshire, Florida, New York, Colorado and California.
I don't think it is at all weird or inappropriate that her grandmother, her aunt, the librarians she really loved in New Hampshire, close neighbors who area almost like family, etc are her friends on facebook. I think it is lovely that she (and they) can use this tool to help maintain a close relationship in spite of the miles which separate them.

 

[Daisy&Max]

I'm a teacher and I have FB. However, I have two accounts. One I use for students, parents, and former students and parents. I only check it about once a month and almost never post there. I like to see what the kids are up to and then I don't have to have them bugging me about being their friends.

I also have a rule with my FB where I will not friend anyone under 18. I've had kids of my friends try to friend me and I will not accept them either. While I'm good about what I put on mFB and don't put anything too terribly personal I don't want to have to censor myself if I want to say something.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I am not interested in Facebook - love computers and email, but do not like Facebook, Twitter, etc. I have no interest in finding old childhood peers, as that is not my life now. Nor, do I think they could care about my life at this point.

Tiger

It is very helpful for those of us who have family scattered across the US. It is an easy way to keep in touch. It's not just for the past to come and find you...

 

[Tiger926]

It is very helpful for those of us who have family scattered across the US. It is an easy way to keep in touch. It's not just for the past to come and find you...

Of course, I know that, but I didn't mention it, as it doesn't pertain to me. I mentioned two areas that pertain to me only. For me, since most of my family lives in the same city, it would be for past childhood friends, as all of my current friends, also live in the same city. My friends, family and colleagues and I communicate daily, so no need for Facebook in this situation either. I have 2 family members who live out of town (Toronto and Vancouver), and we correspond by phone, email and letters, and personal visits. They both have Facebook, but we do just fine in our communicating with the way it is, so Facebook is not necessary in my situation.

YMMV, Tiger

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I am a teacher (11th & 12th grade). I have a FB account but I keep my setting private and I do not friend my students (or their parents).

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm friends with one of my high school teachers, but he refuses to friend anyone who is a current student.