There is no doubt that in today's generation student's daily lives are mixed with technology and various forms of social media. If you go to a school of any level you will find that a majority of the students possess some form of social media; ranging from Facebook, to Twitter, to Instagram and texting. As an educator it is important to know how to use social media properly inside and outside the classroom.
Due to the teachers who do not know how to use social media properly, schools have started to create policies that involve the use of social networking within schools.
An article online stated that some teachers have set poor examples within social media sites. Teachers have been found posting inappropriate pictures and comments that involve sex and alcohol.
As a professional this is never okay, but as a teacher it comes with even more severe outcomes. When you go into the field of Education you should know the boundaries with social networking. Facebook is one tool that can cause many problems for teachers who don't use it properly. It is often recommended that teachers have separate Facebook accounts if they are going to use it in their classroom or to contact other employers. In an article online about a teacher's guide to Facebook, it states that one rule to follow is to never post pictures or information on Facebook that you wouldn't share with your class. It is also advised to never friend students on Facebook because you may see things that you shouldn't and because of legality you may have to report them.
Facebook should not be used as a place to vent about your school day or your frustrations you may have. You should never speak badly about the school you work for or the district because it will most likely not remain private.
A news story online shared the story of a teacher in Boston who was forced to resign because of her postings on Facebook. She meant to have her postings be private but she did not know how to use Facebook properly and did not have the proper setting. The former teacher posted badly about the residents in the town where she taught and how she wasn't looking forward to another year teaching at the school.
If you are a teacher it should be because you have a passion to teach. If you don't have the passion anymore it is better to resign than hate your job everyday. When you have a teacher who is uninterested and hates their job the students can tell. They don't enjoy their experience with that teacher as much as they would with a teacher who is very enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. Teachers need to understand that they are held at a higher standard than other professionals, and because of this they need to be responsible with social networking.
References
Dunn, J. (2011, January 11). Every teacher's must-have guide to Facebook. Retrieved from
Preston, J. (2011, December 11). Rules to limit how teachers and students interact online. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/business/media/rules-to-limit-how-teachers-and-students-interact-online.html?_r=0
WCVBtv. (2010, August 18). H.S. teacher fired for Facebook posting. Retrieved January 17, 2013,
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