It's not often that I feel stongly enough to express an opinion (usually incase someone disagrees with me and I hate conflict) but anyway, this is something I feel very strongly about so here goes (sorry if I uspet anyone!)
Having pupils as friends on Facebook - Why???
I've just "befriended" a colleague of mine from work and on perusing their friends, discovered several of our pupils as friends. Now, I'm afraid I feel very strongly that pupils and Facebook don't mix. From my point of view, Facebook is a place for me (and my friends) to share things we find funny / interesting etc and just to hang out and exchange silly messages in our status updates. It's also somewhere I and can share my family photos and play Scramble - badly (although I wouldn't say that I was in anyway addicted to this particular game). It's something personal, and (to me) having pupils as friends on Facebook is almost as bad as them knocking on my door and asking to come in for a coffee / watch TV / come to the pub with me. It would mean that they were encroaching on my "me-time" and also that I couldn't be "me" in my exchanges with real friends. Aside from all of this, one could lay oneself open to all kinds of problems by allowing pupils to be friends on Facebook...what if parents were aware and thought exchanges with friends / sending drinks or cocktails and such like were inappropriate and then complained to their child's Headteacher, thus opening up a whole new can of worms? I don't even want to go there!
Of course, now I'm in a bit of a difficult position, firstly do I mention my concerns to my colleague? Secondly, now I'm (innocently) semi-visible to pupils am I going to bombarded with friend requests...all of which I would refuse, of course? It's a difficult one for someone who doesn't like conflict, but, quite by accident, I've fallen into what could be a hornets' nest!
The odd thing is, many of these friends are Yr11 (but not all) and of any of them were to request to be "friends" in September, when they're safely out of our school I'd happily say "yes" because then I wouldn't be dealing with them day to day on a professional basis and it's nice to see how former pupils get on once they leave school.
Anyway, there's my rant, maybe you agree with me, maybe you don't...I'd love to hear other peoples' opinions...(Oh and if anyone wants a quick gave of Scrambe, I do really like to get new - grown up - friends...I've lost 3 recently - not sure how that happened!)
Having pupils as friends on Facebook - Why???
I've just "befriended" a colleague of mine from work and on perusing their friends, discovered several of our pupils as friends. Now, I'm afraid I feel very strongly that pupils and Facebook don't mix. From my point of view, Facebook is a place for me (and my friends) to share things we find funny / interesting etc and just to hang out and exchange silly messages in our status updates. It's also somewhere I and can share my family photos and play Scramble - badly (although I wouldn't say that I was in anyway addicted to this particular game). It's something personal, and (to me) having pupils as friends on Facebook is almost as bad as them knocking on my door and asking to come in for a coffee / watch TV / come to the pub with me. It would mean that they were encroaching on my "me-time" and also that I couldn't be "me" in my exchanges with real friends. Aside from all of this, one could lay oneself open to all kinds of problems by allowing pupils to be friends on Facebook...what if parents were aware and thought exchanges with friends / sending drinks or cocktails and such like were inappropriate and then complained to their child's Headteacher, thus opening up a whole new can of worms? I don't even want to go there!
Of course, now I'm in a bit of a difficult position, firstly do I mention my concerns to my colleague? Secondly, now I'm (innocently) semi-visible to pupils am I going to bombarded with friend requests...all of which I would refuse, of course? It's a difficult one for someone who doesn't like conflict, but, quite by accident, I've fallen into what could be a hornets' nest!
The odd thing is, many of these friends are Yr11 (but not all) and of any of them were to request to be "friends" in September, when they're safely out of our school I'd happily say "yes" because then I wouldn't be dealing with them day to day on a professional basis and it's nice to see how former pupils get on once they leave school.
Anyway, there's my rant, maybe you agree with me, maybe you don't...I'd love to hear other peoples' opinions...(Oh and if anyone wants a quick gave of Scrambe, I do really like to get new - grown up - friends...I've lost 3 recently - not sure how that happened!)
Wouldn't happen to me as I teach primary and they're not supposed to be allowed on but I agree with you! Accepting pupils as friends seems to be asking for trouble. Facebook is be letting my hair down, and although I don't do anything I'm ashamed or embarrassed by, I don't think it';s appropriate - and I feel that i'm entitled to a bit of privacy to be juvenile and throw things at my friends..
ReplyDeleteI must say I agree Helena and Lisa. No way would I be 'friends' with students on Facebook or MySpace. I had a student request friendship on MySpace which I of course refused. I too feel that Facebook is my space where I don't have to be serious about anything and that is a nice release, but not one I want to share with my current students. I too, think I would add students after they leave school when I don't see them all the time either. It's a different relationship then.
ReplyDeleteI also think it's important that our students don't see us as 'friends' in the sense they understand it. Even though we are as friendly and supportive as we can be as teachers, we aren't their 'friends' if that makes sense.
I'll find you on facebook for some Scramble!
I must say I agree Helena and Lisa. No way would I be 'friends' with students on Facebook or MySpace. I had a student request friendship on MySpace which I of course refused. I too feel that Facebook is my space where I don't have to be serious about anything and that is a nice release, but not one I want to share with my current students. I too, think I would add students after they leave school when I don't see them all the time either. It's a different relationship then. I also think it's important that our students don't see us as 'friends' in the sense they understand it. Even though we are as friendly and supportive as we can be as teachers, we aren't their 'friends' if that makes sense.I'll find you on facebook for some Scramble!
ReplyDeleteHello Helena,
ReplyDeleteI used to agree with you but my opinion has been swayed in the past few months. I think it is possible to use facebook for educational purposes. I do, having established "La sociedad española de Nottingham High School" on it, my year 11s have also establised a separate, Spanish only, society in facebook.
Of course, it all depends what you you use facebook for. If you have pictures on it of that night out you can't really remember because you had one too many, then, obviously befriending pupils is not a good idea.
However, if you don't use facebook (or, at least, that account) for that purpose, then I don't see why pupils shouldn't be able to see you in a more human light.
I don't mean to hijack your post, but I blogged about facebook some weeks ago:
http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=31
http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=52
If you do read these posts, you can see my opinion changing from: eek, pupils as friends! to mmm, alright, there might be something in this after all!
My 6th from has even been known to send me work via facebook; when my school blog gets updated, a notice is sent to facebook; in my recent Spanish trip, photos where exschanged via facebook. I think it does have potential, as long as you are mindful of the risks and you know where to draw the line.
I decided to give it a go and now have pupils amongst my facebook "friends".
Hello Helena,I used to agree with you but my opinion has been swayed in the past few months. I think it is possible to use facebook for educational purposes. I do, having established "La sociedad española de Nottingham High School" on it, my year 11s have also establised a separate, Spanish only, society in facebook.Of course, it all depends what you you use facebook for. If you have pictures on it of that night out you can't really remember because you had one too many, then, obviously befriending pupils is not a good idea.However, if you don't use facebook (or, at least, that account) for that purpose, then I don't see why pupils shouldn't be able to see you in a more human light.I don't mean to hijack your post, but I blogged about facebook some weeks ago:http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=31http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=52If you do read these posts, you can see my opinion changing from: eek, pupils as friends! to mmm, alright, there might be something in this after all! My 6th from has even been known to send me work via facebook; when my school blog gets updated, a notice is sent to facebook; in my recent Spanish trip, photos where exschanged via facebook. I think it does have potential, as long as you are mindful of the risks and you know where to draw the line.I decided to give it a go and now have pupils amongst my facebook "friends".
ReplyDeleteWouldn't happen to me as I teach primary and they're not supposed to be allowed on but I agree with you! Accepting pupils as friends seems to be asking for trouble. Facebook is be letting my hair down, and although I don't do anything I'm ashamed or embarrassed by, I don't think it';s appropriate - and I feel that i'm entitled to a bit of privacy to be juvenile and throw things at my friends..
ReplyDelete