In the past, Facebook was a common way for students and teachers to communicate, but now, the district has recommended that teachers terminate friendships with current students.
The state of Missouri has banned teachers from adding current and former students on Facebook and other social media sites this year after arrests in Georgia and New Mexico were made, one involving an eighth grader and one involving a 17 year old. Both were shown to stem from student/teacher relationships on social media sites.
While Principal Judy McDonald hasn’t seen any issues with Facebook at Rider, she believes the new WFISD recommendation will be good.
“I don’t think any of our teachers have an ulterior motive,” McDonald said. “It’s more of a prevention. It was put in place for the safety of the students.”
Teachers who did add students say some educators used their Facebooks to remind students of tests and projects.
In an anonymous survey of Rider teachers, one said that the recommendation has caused teachers to lose a valuable tool to connect with students, but some have already found alternative solutions.
“Most of the teachers I’ve talked to that are tech-savvy said they will set up separate pages, like the yearbook, cheer and football pages,” McDonald said. “They can post and everyone can see it.”
While the district only recommends that teachers not be friends with current students, McDonald advised that Rider faculty follow the recommendation, though one, who did follow the recommendation, is upset about being told what they can and cannot do in their spare time.
One teacher that responded to the survey only adds students after they’ve graduated while another adds former students to a separate account than      non-former students are added to.
“I was of the opinion that adding students to personal Facebook accounts was a conflict of interest,” a different teacher said. “Professional distance must be maintained as long as the kids are in your class. Keep yourself safe, thereby keeping those you have been paid to safeguard safe.”