Is It Okay for Teachers to Communicate With Students Via Facebook?

[SneakBrain]

I find this article interested so I decided to bring it up at the forum.
I have added two teacher and I dont think there's anything wrong with that sometimes they post in my wall to say Hi or comments at my pictures but we all know that there're a limits that non of us is going to break it. We communicate a lot of at Facebook and it never affect our relationship as a teacher & student at the school.

[Amnesiac]

As long as teachers control themselves and don't use it against the student in school, I don't think there's a problem with it.

[blackout123123]

I don't believe it is wrong. Although sometimes adding students could get teachers into trouble if they were to ever get investigated for something involving children and could get used against them.

[Zephyr]

I've got past teachers on my Facebook, but then again, I'm 20, so there would be no legality issues there :P

I don't find a problem with it, so long as the teacher keeps it clean. Watch what pictures they put up, what they say in status updates, be careful as to what somebody may write on your wall or tag you in a photo that may be inappropriate. No alcohol, smoking or other possible drug usage references, that can go over very badly. Some college students get their teaching degrees withheld because some universities will snoop around Facebook for the slightest reason to judge your character. One girl in Florida got her degree withheld because there were pictures of her at a drinking party from years past.

All in all, if I were a teacher, I most likely wouldn't add students to my Facebook unless they were legal age or over. It's not worth losing your license to teach over something that a student sees and may get offended by about your private life.

[Zero Beat]

My teacher (english) is on FB i had to added. She is on even though she was told not to :P

But she is careful about what she posts.

[Delusion15]

One of my teachers is but she is like sixty so i don't think she has to worry about accidental pictures of her doing shots or anything like that lol

[Aves]

I have two teachers added. They're barely teachers, more of friends to me anyways. It's complicated as to why they're are tons of benefits to me having them as Facebook friends, but it's helped me out a few times.

[nick]

I dont see why not, but its up to each person whether they want to add them as friends or not.

[Antares]

TWPR :arrow: Education and Careers


and no i dont htink its a problem at all, as long as its not creepy interactions on facebook

[Jess]

nothing wrong with that, I don't use facebook to communicate with teachers but I use email. as long as they don't like do bad stuff or whatever.

[SneakBrain]

actually even the principle got a Facebook but it's just fan page but she do some status sometimes

[Setzer]

well, I have my science teacher on facebook, I find it really useful, because as she is really sympathethic with us, she "casually" shares videos or pps about the next test :P

[ShatteredWings]

I would never add a teacher to my facebook.
EVER.

[SneakBrain]

I would never add a teacher to my facebook.
EVER.

Why?? do you have something to hide??

[ShatteredWings]

Plenty, actually.
No not drugs/alcohol/whatever.

But my teachers don't need to be in my social life. There's a reason as well that it's very difficult to access my info if you're not on my friend list.

[The Batman]

I use to talk to my Theatre Teacher over facebook sometimes so it's fine to have them it's no different than having their phone number(which I did as well)

[Kaius]

My uni skills lecturer added us all on facebook to make sure her messages got to us, cause they know we're more likely to check facebook a few times a day than we are to check our college email addresses. I think its acceptable for purely student-teacher reasons, not personal ones.

[INFERNO]

I think it's fine as long as the teacher acts within reason and doesn't post inappropriate comments about the student, other students or gives special treatment to certain students. I think it strengthens the teacher-student bond which can make the student more eager to learn what the teacher says and be less intimidated to ask the teacher for help. If the entire class adds the teacher, then it can be a good way to contact all the students in a less formal way.

[Amnesiac]

This reminds me of an incident where a girl almost got in trouble for taking a picture in class (you're not supposed to have cameras in class) and posting it on facebook, where the teacher of that class was her friend. I don't believe teachers can use students' facebook postings against them, unless it's something explicitly illegal. When they add us or accept us as a friend, they have to understand that this is an exterior relationship that can't interfere with school punishments and stuff like that, because it's voluntary. I can unadd and block someone any time I like.

People shouldn't get in trouble for voluntarily trying to get closer to their teachers. Not every student has a facebook or is friends with a teacher, it's unfair to the kid who was nice enough to add or accept his/her teacher as a friend.

[Ender]

Absolutely, as long as the "teacher/student" boundaries aren't crossed

I have all of my favorite teachers of the past on my facebook. Great to have when your having an issue in a certain class. :D

[SneakBrain]

This reminds me of an incident where a girl almost got in trouble for taking a picture in class (you're not supposed to have cameras in class) and posting it on facebook, where the teacher of that class was her friend. I don't believe teachers can use students' facebook postings against them, unless it's something explicitly illegal. When they add us or accept us as a friend, they have to understand that this is an exterior relationship that can't interfere with school punishments and stuff like that, because it's voluntary. I can unadd and block someone any time I like.

People shouldn't get in trouble for voluntarily trying to get closer to their teachers. Not every student has a facebook or is friends with a teacher, it's unfair to the kid who was nice enough to add or accept his/her teacher as a friend.

I have plenty of pictures for me in the class and even the teachers are tagged on it. I'm not saying your story is not true I'm just saying that my school is more open I guess

[Suicune]

My tachers only give "It could effect our job if we did." as their answer. I don't think there's a big problem with it, if it only stays Teacher/Student.