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CAT Tracks for December 21, 2010
RISKY BUSINESS |
Okay, so I'm a dinosaur...
I maintained a wall of separation between student and teacher (although it was mostly due to my introverted personality.)
I will admit to missing the closer, totally appropriate relationship that many fellow teachers had with their students.
However, it got me through a teaching career of 39 years without accusations of inappropriate behavior.
Social media?
According to the school reform articles I read and pass along, you are definitely an old "stick-in-the-mud" if you don't exchange e-mail addresses and telephone numbers with your students. To be one of the "good teachers", you must be available 24/7 to your students.
You're gonna do what you're gonna do...
...but, be careful out there!
It only takes one accusation to ruin a career. And...remember. When you hit that send button, you are providing a disgruntled student or parent with a transcript...that you may be called upon to "explain".
From the WSIL TV Channel 3...
Cracking Down On Student-Teacher Communications
By: Andy Waterman
FRANKLIN COUNTY-- Facebook and e-mail are two popular ways to keep up with friends and family. So it's not that surprising that students also use them to communicate with their teachers.
"I have several of my students are my facebook friends, and we just talk," said West Frankfort math teacher Susan Hood.
Hood says many times she's answering questions about homework. That seems harmless enough, but when it comes to student-teacher relationships, you can't be too careful.
"You don't want it to be too personal, you want to keep it as business as possible," Hood said.
Administrators in Texas aren't taking that chance. Starting this week, teachers have to refrain from inappropriate communication with students, including the use of texting, e-mail, or social networking, which could be monitored.
West Frankfort superintendent Greg Goins says that's not showing educators a lot of trust.
"I think that's a very narrow-minded approach, I think it's a drastic measure," Goins said.
The superintendent says taking away that communication could drastically hurt a child's education.
"We want to be able to provide information, and if a child has a question, they need to be able to have immediate access to their teachers to do their homework, and to stay caught up," said Goins.
Although these types of communications are helpful, Goins understands anything can be misinterpreted. So it's always good for parents to monitor these talks as well.
"Parents need to be involved in what their kids are doing, and what kind of communications they're getting electronically," Goins said. "And I think it's very important that parents monitor those things."
