Quick confession: I’m on Facebook. I joined last year and found it a great way to keep in touch with friends back home and to catch up with classmates I hadn’t seen in a decade or more. But in this day and age it was only a matter of time before my students here in Beijing (at a US-based study abroad program) stumbled onto my profile and started adding me as “facebook friends.”
I admit that at first, I was hesitant. I know that other teachers have no problem with this and I didn’t want to seem standoffish, but at the same time, while there is little information on my page that I wouldn’t willingly share if asked, I was concerned about the need to maintain professional distance between myself and those whom I teach. There was also the instinct to ‘protect the students from themselves.’ That is: What’s going to happen when the first of the web 2.0/YouTube/camera phone/viral video generation wants to run for office? I suspect that some students have information/images on their profiles they would probably rather their professors didn’t see.
In the end I decided to accept friend requests and I happily respond to queries and questions when sent to my message folder or posted on my ‘wall,’ but I don’t go to the student’s sites or view photographs (unless I’ve been unlucky enough to get tagged myself…usually huffing up some section of The Great Wall or another.)
I’ve also thought that there are uses for facebook: academic-based groups, sharing of ideas, event invitations, and even the time-sucking geography game as an interactive replacement for the old paper map quiz.
Then CNN.com had a story today on social networking and inappropriate teacher/student relationships that made me once again question the wisdom of Facebook friendships. While the more lurid aspects of the piece seemed remote to me, the larger issue of maintaining that professional distance looms as an overarching theme. As a teacher, you develop a natural caution about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. For example, except for extreme cases, I almost never meet with a student one-on-one behind a closed door. I also am not inclined to socialize or have lunch with current students, to the point that here in Beijing, I make it a point to steer clear of places where I know my students congregate to unwind. That may seem paranoid or unfriendly, but in today’s society I think it makes sense. At the very least, it’s about maintaining an appearance of impartiality that would be tested if a teacher were to routinely socialize with one group of students rather than another. That said, I think it’s nice to get together with former students for a chat or lunch to find out how they’re doing and what their plans are for the future.
Anyway, I’ve decided to stay on Facebook, but the CNN piece reminds me of how technology is changing the academic landscape in unexpected ways. In the end, I think that building rapport with students is one of the most important tasks for a teacher. I genuinely like my students, and following their progress both during the semester and after is one of the joys of my job. At the same time, however, we have a professional responsibility to maintain a certain distance. That balance is never easy, and I suspect as technology connects us in new and unforseen ways, it will become harder still.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Rosario Vasquez // Aug 14, 2008 at 11:30 am
After reading the article, and finding somewhat relieved that I wasn’t a spec in a nebula trying to reach out for my students in any possible way. I found my self networking with my kids and sharing simple things like wishing a happy birthday or sending happy faces. BUT I have found that not all my students are as candid as I was or discreet for that instance. With all the pros and with even more cons I do want to keep my facebook profile open, since in a sense is the only way some kids communicate. On the other Those teacher who use these networks on a selfish innapropiate way spoil the thin bridges of communication we finally make with kids and teenagers.
2 Meeps // Aug 14, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Well, as teachers and professional educators, we should know when to draw the line. Just as we know how to draw the line/distance between friends and acquaintances or anyone whom we counsel. Social networking sites aren’t the only avenues for things to go wrong between students and teachers.
I usually ignore facebook requests from current students and they also understand why. If I’m 100% certain that I won’t teach them again, they’ve moved on or graduated, then I welcome them as my friends on facebook (again, that comes with discretion too..). That way, I don’t think there will be any conflict of interest/problems.
Current students who wish to consult staff on any academic matters could do so through email/consultation hours or use our college’s innovative e-learning portal where students can post questions, share ideas, “public discussion board”, etc. etc… so I think there are other avenues for students to reach out to teachers when they need help and not necessarily rely on social networking sites… if they get too problematic, just refer them to professional counseling. (had to do that with a few suicidal cases..)
3 Jeremiah // Aug 14, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Rosario,
Thanks for stopping by, good to know I’m not alone in wrestling with this issue.
Meeps,
Well said but….suicide cases?!?! I haven’t had to deal with those yet, but you never know.
4 Mitchell // Aug 29, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Is this a subject that female teachers must ever worry about or even in the same manner? I recall that during my time in a certification program, we were bombarded with stories about how little girls/ young women can sometimes get carried away with their teachers. The female majority could not understand what the big deal was and chided the men with laughter.
The fact is that a male teacher cannot afford even an appearance of impropriety, ironically, to some extent, from the same chiding female majority in the profession.
Leave a Comment