So far this weekend, I've had two students request to be my friend on Facebook. I don't have anything on it that would be considered controversial, but I'm wondering if anyone knows of any rules/laws out there preventing teachers from being friends with students.
Any ideas? (So far I've sent both requesters messages stating that I'd love to be their "friend" but needed to check into the rules first and then let them know on Monday.)
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4 comments:
I don't know that there are laws that apply. I let some of my speech kids be my friend on facebook (mostly because it gives me access to their pictures from tournaments.) However, I have set up a limited profile that they can see that basically has nothing on it. I have a hard time letting them see my wall because you never know what someone else (like a college buddy) is going to write on it. It is too much out of my control...so I just don't let them see it.
I agree with Travis about the fact that you can't control what other people will write on your wall. This includes the students that you allow to be your friends. I would be more worried about them sharing information with me that I didn't want to know. I would suggest not allowing them to be your friend.
I only allow former students to be my friends and I am highly selective when allowing them access. I also use a limited profile with my students.
While I do not have a facebook yet, I get lots of invites to join this and that with students. I never do because it just seems a little sketchy to me. I don't want to get into a sticky situation that I can't get out of. If I doubt if I should do it, I usually go with my gut and don't. I am more afraid that I will find out things about them that I don't want to know, and I'd hate to get into a mandated reporting situation that could have been avoided. Just my two cents.
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