Should students, teachers be Facebook 'friends'?
BY SHARON ROZNIK • THE REPORTER • OCTOBER 10, 2010
Dixie Jarchow logs onto Facebook several times a day. Jarchow, a science teacher at Horace Mann High School in North Fond du Lac, browses a
friend’s photographs, updates her status and leaves a message on a family member’s “wall.” But at no point in her Facebook time does she “friend”
or interact with students.
“I was told by a previous police liaison officer that it is not a good idea to befriend students, because if I saw them doing something illegal, I would
be responsible to report it. I do have a Facebook chat room to discuss physical science ideas,” she said.
By the (Face)book
Facebook and other social-networking sites are more popular than ever. And whether students and teachers should be friends on these sites has
become a controversial topic.
One of the conditions of use for Facebook in the Fond du Lac School District requires that teachers not “friend” students under any circumstances.
Additionally, the principal of the building must be aware of the use and be provided with the log-in and password for all school-based Facebook
accounts.
“If it is personal Facebook, we can’t tell them ‘no,’ but both the School District and the Fond du Lac Education Association are recommending
(teachers) do not friend students. It’s a very easy way to get in trouble,” said John Whitsett, the district’s curriculum and instruction coordinator.
Teaching tool
Having a school or class-related Facebook page is a way for teachers to use the site professionally. Views differ on whether teachers and students
should interact on these sites.
Ripon School Superintendent Richard Zimman said when used in the right way, Facebook can be a great teaching tool. The district’s Facebook page
is widely read and is accessible from the school website. Students, parents, grandparents, community members and educators from other school
districts are “friends.”
“We allow postings, so not all content is put there by the district. So far, 99 percent of the postings have not been an issue. If a posting is made that is
considered an attack or doesn’t state the facts, we have used educational responses to counter the posting rather than censorship. We would like to
engage and teach people rather than silence them,” he said.
Open communication
At first Kirk Tapp was apprehensive about “friending” students. Now the Oakfield history teacher finds it’s a great way to keep in contact.
“I often have students send me questions about homework or other assignments via Facebook. On a couple of occasions, students have sent me
messages about personal or school related problems that they didn’t feel comfortable sharing in person. Of course, I am very careful what I post, and
am constantly urging them to be aware of the impact their posts could have on their lives,” he said.
Faye Barber has past and present students as Facebook friends.
“I am very aware that my students may see my family pictures, but then my family can also see my professional photos. There is nothing posted that
I would be embarrassed to reveal,” said the Oakfield art teacher.
“Anyone who uses profanity or posts inappropriate pictures of others is deleted after I write a private message to the person. If they do not delete it or
make amends in some fashion I don’t waste any time, they are no longer on my Facebook. I have a rule, if you wouldn’t show it to your boss, Mom
and Dad, pastor, teacher or police, then don’t air it for all the world to see,” she said.
Knowing bounds
Beth Stroede, an eighth-grade teacher in North Fond du Lac, said she ignores “friend” requests from students.
“At school and in-person, I explain to the students that I am not their friend, I am their teacher who loves helping them learn. If they would like to
contact me electronically, they can do so via my school email,” she said.
North Fond du Lac School Superintendent Aaron Sadoff keeps both a personal Facebook page and a separate account set up for school in which
anyone can be a “friend,” but only he can post on.
“I control what I say and do, but I do not control what others see or hear. Students have different filters and I feel I need to separate my personal
interaction with my professional and educational, age-appropriate interactions,” he said.
Pat Antony, district administrator for Mayville schools, said she didn’t think much about befriending students until she saw a TV news story about a
principal that was accused of spying on students using Facebook friendships.
“That news report caused me to take pause. I would now alert my administrators to proceed cautiously on this front. In a way, Facebook is the new
‘teen hangout,’ although an electronic one, but we need to consider the risks we take on in amassing all these casual, electronic friendships,” she said.
Gannett Media contributed to this story.