Question from: Bill Leachman
Great post. I would like to know your opinion on if you think students should be disciplined for posting things about their teachers on Facebook. I recently read an article about a student being suspended because of posting things about the teacher on Facebook. Not saying it is right, but when I was in school, we didn't have Facebook to post things about teachers, we just talked about them in our group, so in the age of social media, should this be a disciplinary action? I can understand if death threats or posts that the teacher was threated with physical harm, but just posts that you do not like the teacher, should a student be punished for that?"
Follow up by: Anthony Bachman
To a comment to a previous blog entry I shared, the question was raised, I would like to know your opinion on if you think students should be disciplined for posting things about their teachers on Facebook.
I remember confiscating notes, particularly from 13 yr. old girls, that featured all the “hot gossip”. I use to correct them for grammar in red ink, then hang them on my bulletin board as examples of how to “edit” your own work! That stopped the flow of gossiping notes, at least, the notes went underground. Facebook is not underground. Students today do not realize the power of the printed word verses the spoken word, and how their Facebook posts can be read for “public” reading.
Did you ever get a note, analyze every sentence, try to find the hidden meanings of intent? The written word invites the reader to do that. Notes, however, never contain “voice” intonations or reflections. Trash talk among guys is impersonal, not taken seriously or personally, but is accepted as a challenge for competition and male camaraderie. Swearing in a boys’ college dorm or frat is looked upon as meaningless verbiage. But the “written word” is taken differently.
On Facebook you cannot deny that you said it, if you posted it! With students, verbally, you usually get second hand gossip, then denial. It is hard to nail the primary source of teenage gossip when it is verbal, but not so with the written word.
Students today haven’t figured out that what you write on Facebook is there for all “your friends” to see’ it’s public domain. You have put it out there. It is not like private face to face conversations. There is no direct “face” in front of you when using “Face”book.
As a teacher, I would never write a negative thing about a student I currently have if that statement was open to the public. I want to build up that student. There are many students that I could spread the gossip about, but as a professional, and just as a respectable adult, I would refrain from doing such a thing.
Slander and Libel are “crimes in writing” to ruin a reputation. As a teacher I will not allow myself to be in a room alone with a 13 yr. old girls for any reason because if she falsely “accuses me” of “sexual harassment”, she could ruin my career. If it is her word against mine, most administrators will take her for her word, and make me fight for my life to save mine! Facebook can be a tool used for maliciously slandering a teacher you do not like. Often students do not understand the seriousness of this nature. Some students just resent authority, thus opposing their teacher, but can make their attack personal.
We do not allow “cyber-bullying”, an attempt to ruin another student’s reputation or self esteem through extreme negativity through Facebook and other social networking tools. Taking photos of others without their permission and posting them to defame or make fun of that person is also totally wrong. If it is wrong for students to post negativity about other students, I do not know why it wouldn’t be wrong to do the same about their teachers.
Every student may need a sounding board, but Facebook is not the forum for that, because your complaint does not bounce off anyone, it sticks, it is printed, it is tangible for all to see.
We are in a generation where “education bashing” is not only acceptable, but the norm. Teachers were respected in the ‘70’s because we beat the Russians in science in the Space Race, highly regarded in the ‘80’s because educations was the key to success in Reaganomics, but in the ‘90’s became the “scape goat” of American society, being blamed for every ill. At the beginning of the 21st Century that attitude has continued, only now society not only blames education, but expects education to fix it! It is politically correct to blame “bad teachers” for our “failing schools”, but never addressing the short comings in our society, ie. dead-beat dads, dysfunctional families, etc. So Facebook bashing of education just adds to the dilemma.
Bottom line: I do not allow trash talking in my classroom, nor negative note writing, nor bullying of any form, nor negative “texting”. Nor should it be allowed in “public domain”, especially through social network tools. I am trying to teach my students character, responsibility, and integrity. I want to teach them to build one another up, not tear each other down.
Americans have lost showing respect for authority. Adults bash our President, our Public Officials, our police force, or educational system, and almost anyone in authority under the banner of “freedom of speech”. Why wouldn’t their children do the same. Maybe we should model “positive” posting, giving “encouraging” words, and actually “complimenting” someone, maybe even a teacher!
This was a guest post by Anthony Bachman. He is a public school teacher at Spring Grove Area School District in Spring Grove Pennsylvania. Anthony also writes a blog on christian topics called Five Revealed.
