Teachers who have a Facebook inevitably face some decisions about how much of their private life they will allow their students to see. Some don’t allow anyone they have taught to be added as a “friend.” Others allow anyone. Both sides have good reasons. One principal gave a short webinar about Facebook reasoning that if educators do not allow students to become friends then they deny themselves the opportunity to be part of the conversation that they ARE having; yet he doesn’t seek students. They have to friend him.
I wasn’t comfortable with either of those. My personal policy is a.) don’t post anything I wouldn’t’ say in the in classroom (because let’s face it folks, no matter who you friend or don’t friend, no matter your privacy settings, it’s PUBLIC forum), b.) don’t friend current students, but past is okay, and c.) they ask me, I don’t ask them.
I’m sure that my former students are thrilled with my status updates: “6:00 AM: Adam pointed at the stove this morning as I cooked. “Hot? Hot?” Yes. hot. Then he blew on it in an effort to cool it. Seems reasonable.”
Mostly, I’m in for the humor as is clear. But I love to have a continuing conversation with those whom I’ve taught. I like to have the opportunity to chat with them and congratulate them on their accomplishments. It’s a lot of fun.
The best I’ve read in a long time was a former student’s conversation this morning:
Former student: I feel so uncool, Obama said goodluck to the us soccer team and within 25 minutes had 1600 comments and 7000 people like his status…
Former student’s unknown friend: you are facebook friends with Obama?
Former student: Yeah, I’m basically his closest advisor. He keeps on poking me in the middle of the night and wants me to play farmville so I can fertlize his crops…
