• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Why Teachers Should Not “Friend” Their Students on Facebook

October 28, 2015 by KidSafe Foundation Leave a Comment

To friend the teacher or not to friend the teacher, that is the question.

The school year is right around the corner and the safety of all children is on the forefront of our minds. We think its time for all parents to think about boundaries between students and their teachers.

Teachers are in the position of role model for our children, no matter what your children’s ages. In today’s world our children’s teachers are using technology. While technology is advancing the age of children, its use is starting younger and younger. Many teachers use technology in the classroom and your children need to be up to speed on the latest and greatest that is out there.

Children need to be 13 years of age to be on Facebook, yet we all know children as young as 9 have their own pages. Children have a hard time understanding the consequences of their actions–friending one’s teacher is something a kid might do, just like they might friend a relative, an older cousin or their older brother’s friend. From a child’s or teen’s perspective, a teacher is someone he or she sees daily and feels connected to. Perhaps the teacher has encouraged the kids to be in touch via Facebook to get questions answered or extra help.

It all sounds good, right? Wrong. Facebook is a social media network, a place where a teacher wears many hats. We are not even talking about impropriety here, we are talking about common sense privacy and professional boundaries. Do all teachers think to themselves before they post a picture or make a comment–“what will my 7th grade students think about this?” Is it appropriate for your 6th grader to know that her teacher spent the weekend away with her boyfriend? (Nothing wrong with Teacher spending the weekend away, but is it necessary for your sixth grader to know how her teacher spends her weekend?)

In today’s complicated world, it seems more and more that teachers are crossing boundaries with students. Not a day goes by that we don’t see a news story about a teacher, coach, or other trusted adult molesting, sexting, or using other inappropriate avenues to get close with a student through technology. Now if teachers are reading this…keep in mind that we are teachers too, and we believe that most teachers only have the best interests of their students in mind and would never cross inappropriate boundaries. But in this day and age, there are many that do, unfortunately. Because of this, we believe that teachers and students should NOT be friends on any social media sites.

Our children are growing up in the digital age–less is more, faster is better, and to catch a child’s attention, teachers must be on the cutting edge of technology. But that doesn’t mean that the students understand what is in their own best interest. Many wouldn’t think twice about friending a teacher on Facebook. It is the teachers that need to put in some thought, recognize their professional roles, and realize the risks they open themselves up to by friending students.

There are a myriad of options online for today’s teachers to reach out to their students without crossing professional boundaries or perhaps mistakenly showing favoritism. Teachers creating a class website that reaches out to the whole class, including parents, can be an effective form of communication and have tremendous benefit to children.

Since there is still much to learn regarding social networking and professionalism, we need to tread carefully on the subject. Some school boards in various states have even created policy to address the issue.

Our solution: Teachers should not be “friends” with their students! They should be mentors, role models, and guides for our children.

Teachers deserve to have a life. They have every right to post pictures, talk about their lives, and do whatever they want in their own social networking realm. But I don’t want my child to see it or be a part of it because when they do, they become a part of it too. And that, my “friend”, is how the boundaries become blurred.

For more information visit our website www.kidsafefoundation.org

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Education

About KidSafe Foundation

KidSafe Foundation is a 501(c) nonprofit founded by Cherie Benjoseph is a LCSW and Sally Berenzweig, MEd, MA -Child Safety Experts, Mental Health Professionals, Educators, Public Speakers and Coauthor's of two award winning children's books "My Body is Special and Belongs To ME!" & "Jack Teaches His Friends To Be KidSafe!" and "KidSafe for Kids" -8 week curriculum for children ages 4 -12. KidSafe's mission is to provide education to children and adults to prevent child sexual abuse, bullying and internet dangers. For more information www.kidsafefoundation.org
Working together to keep KidSafe!Cherie Benjoseph, LCSW and Sally Berenzweig, MEd, MA

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Brooke Burke: My Slim Down Secrets

Everywhere I look, I hear about a new fitness fad, a quick … [Read More...] about Brooke Burke: My Slim Down Secrets

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

How to Detect a Miscarriage

When Can a Baby Hear in the Womb

When Can a Baby Hear in the Womb ?

Health Benefits of Drinking Kombucha

The Health Benefits of Drinking Kombucha

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

Cures & Remedies for Head Lice

Cures & Remedies for Head Lice

diabetes in infants

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Infants

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2022 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.