Teachers’ Online Identities
June 10th, 2009 |
Miguel Guhlin has once again pushed my thinking. This time its about the issue of personal content that K-12 teachers post online. I’ve spent a lot of time researching, thinking about and discussing this topic, but it struck me that this issue is actually a lot hairier than I’ve previously realized. There are a lot of different aspects that need to be considered.
Here are a few points from Miguel’s post. I encourage you to consider each question twice asking yourself Do.. the first time and Should… the second time.
- Do/Should school districts have any say about what a teacher does after hours?
- Do/Should school districts have any say about what a teacher posts online?
- Do/Should teachers represent the district after hours?
Rather than commenting on the discussion at this point, I hope to further it by asking a few more questions.
- Do/Should schools districts have any say about what staff members (Secretary, custodian, cafeteria staff, bus driver, mechanic, maintenance, etc.) do after hours? Post online?
- Do/Should parents and the community have any say in these matters?
- How does this translate to higher education?
- If the answers to these questions are “yes” then is the same true for individuals in other professions (Nurse, news reporter, radio DJ, police officer, elected official, unelected government employee, or store clerk)?
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June 10th, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Aside from posting things that are morally reprehensible, I don’t think that schools should have any say in what teachers post outside of school hours. Nevertheless, as a teacher I try to remain apolitical in my online postings.
June 10th, 2009 at 10:35 AM
This is definitely a hot issue as we see situations in the news where teachers have used poor judgment online more often than I would like to see. I understand that teachers are held to a higher “moral standard” than other professions, but why are teachers singled out? I have yet to see (but I may be wrong) a case in the news where a doctor, nurse, or the like have been fired due to their after hours activities or their online activity.
Thoughts? Comments? I would love to see a further discussion of this topic from those in and out of the education field.
Teryl´s last blog ..WORLD MATHS DAY 2009
June 10th, 2009 at 10:46 AM
I was asked to remove my blog link from my email signature at work after one of my posts criticized the impending layoffs of personnel that would affect me and my department (http://is.gd/XlFW). Until then, no one complained about it.
This was in spite of the fact that at the bottom of every post, I publish the statement: “This blog expresses the personal opinions of the author and is not affiliated
with nor representative of any company, employer, or other entity.”
I wanted to protest the censorship, but decided my professional email was not actually owned by me, and the district actually does have the official authority to separate my personal editorials from work-related communications.
The boundaries blur much more when we consider what I do on social networks or my blog or other online venues outside of work. On the one hand, as an educator, I’m morally and ethically held to a higher standard than someone who doesn’t model behavior for impressionable students. On the other hand, I have as much right to free expression as any other citizen.
I’ve decided to take the higher ground and adopt a policy of caution when posting online. Since anything I write, publish, or post online marks and brands me, I try to stay positive and professional. My personal guideline assumes that my supervisor, my students, their parents, and any potential new employers will be able to review anything I post. It keeps me from being too ugly in tone or subversive in topic.
Problem is, I like my sarcasm and I dislike reining it in. I have a secret wish to be rebellious and radical… perhaps I will create a new domain with an alias and post really snipey, mean, or crude material, and indulge my counterculture tendencies.
June 10th, 2009 at 1:48 PM
While I don’t think entities, companies, or schools have a right to say what an employee posts after hours, I do think that employees should be smart about what they choose to put out there. I recently wrote about these “professional filters” on my blog here: http://digigogy.blogspot.com/2009/05/maintaining-professional-filter.html
Eventually, schools are going to start writing policies around this or adding language to their contracts that may seem to limit “free speech” to the extent that it protects the interests of the business or school. I’m not saying that we should censor ourselves and our thoughts, I’m just saying that we don’t need to share every little detail about our personal lives. In this economy, it only seems wise to think critically about what you put into the online environment, because once it’s there, it’s there forever.
-Mike
Mike Fisher´s last blog ..New Web Stuff 06/10/2009
June 10th, 2009 at 2:29 PM
All these questions need a second question. Does the post reflect on the school that employs them? If teachers and staff members are commenting as an individual that is making no reference to the school, other employees, the school system at large, BOE, parents, or students during their online posting after hours, it should not cause any controversy. However, if in their networking site they mention they are an employee of the X-school, then they represent X-School 24/7 and their comments should reflect a more professional attitude. Our school board’s policy states that while the Board of Education respects the right of employees and students to use social networking sites (i.e. blogs, MySpace, Facebook) to communicate with others, any postings referencing X-Schools shall always be professional and respectful of the school system, X-School’s employees, parents, and students. I don’t think that is too much to ask.
As for the doctor/nurse comment, If they went online and slammed their patients, they would be violating the Health Information Privacy Act and would most certainly be subject to punishment up to and including losing their license to practice medicine.
June 10th, 2009 at 3:50 PM
RT: Teachers’ Online Identities… should we be held to a different standard of free expression? http://clifmims.com/blog/archives/2502
June 12th, 2009 at 12:31 AM
I think it is appropriate for schools to have SOME say so on the after hours life of a teacher. That has always been the case and is, practically, dictated by local mores. I’ve told future teachers “you know if you want a job around here (NE TENN) then you will have to keep those tats covered at all times right?”. However what is a taboo in the Bible Belt will fly in NYC or Madison. I think the same does apply to other professions- but not all, or to the same extent.
Those in positions of moral authority, public trust, or in direct contact with children do have an extra mile to walk in regards to the example they set. Again, local mores determine that criteria.