Comments on: Familiarity Breeds Contempt—Part I

By: Chris Miller

Chris Miller — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:22:45 +0000

As a teacher at a not for profit business university, I think you could say that it is not a teacher/student thing so much as a culture thing. In this particular culture, where your kids and teachers hang out, it’s obviously important for teachers to be thought cool by students.

Where I teach and have taught for lo, these many years, our students are adults–many of them only wanna be’s when they come in, but if they stick it out, darned if we don’t mold them up. I have students who make more money than I do ( hard as that is to believe) and students who are going to be making more money not that long after they graduate. I occasionally find one of these students popping up on Facebook, and on Linkdin, I am connected to quite a few students, past and present. I have to say that, as in the classroom, I am able to talk to adults like fellow adults. I am able to share with them what I am an expert in and they are not, but if I didn’t treat them with respect, they would not treat me that way. So when they meet me online, they do not cross those lines. We don’t talk about anything we didn’t talk about in class. But of course I don’t have boyfriends, go out drinking, or try to be cool. If I am cool, it’s just my heritage to be so. And if they are cool or uncool, that’s them too.

So, to quote myself, let’s avoid sweeping generalizations. Teachers and students can interact socially without blurring boundaries.

By: Jay LaBonte

Jay LaBonte — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:55:01 +0000

I agree with your comments, that it is a level of common sense, and social networking sites can have great advantages as you stated.

As I stated in the article I was using teachers as an example and admittedly being rather critical of them in the article. I did not state that teachers should not have or use social networking sites, but need to consider how the information they, as anyone should, is viewed by the public, and the impact on their careers that negative information can have.

As you stated, certain professions have to be kept to a higher standard, and teaching is one of those professions.

You do make an excellent point about securing social networking sites so that only those you permit may view it. However, you do not always have control over what others post on their sites that may pertain to you. Therefore, everyone should be concerned with the quality and content of information they disclose both on-line and verbally, as once it has been distributed it is out of your control and the damage may be done.

By: Leigh Ille

Leigh Ille — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:47:06 +0000

As with all things commom sense should be your guide. Social networking websites can be great tools to communicate with your kids away at college, friends and relatives in distant communities, alumni groups, and others with whom you want to stay connected but don’t have the time to write individual letters or emails.
I agree that certain professions have to be held to higher standard, but to imply that because someone is a teacher they should not have a social networking website is inappropriate. Teachers have always had situations they have had to deal with such as having to teach their own children, relatives, their own children’s friends, or the children of personal friends. Again, common sense must prevail. Obviously you can’t be “friends” with students or parents, or anyone under the age of 18(other than your own child). Obviously you don’t want post questionable pictures. And Obviously you want to be sure your webpage is secured so that only those you have given permission to may view your content. Again, all of this is good old, plain old, common sense. Teachers are people too, and we don’t live in a vacuum.

By: speak2destiny

speak2destiny — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:40:44 +0000

Very Informative Blog, really made me think.