Law and Ethics
The world has become such a small space since social media has become so prevalent. Come on now. Be honest. Did you stalk a new colleague on facebook as soon as you got their name as the new staff member? And when you found them did you make judgements based on what you saw? It is something that routinely happens now in a wide range of situations. Prospective employers, parents checking out the new boyfriend/girlfriend and so it goes on.
I teach primary school and it is alarming how many students have a facebook profile that is unguarded and open to the world. These students do not have the maturity or knowledge of repercussions that they may face as a result of these public postings.
But they are kids - how can a bunch of professionals show so little regard for the same media that we claim to know so much about?
We aim to teach our students to be digital citizens who will use media responsibly. Great ideal. Then I see so many posts that make me say "What were they thinking?" as teachers are shown partying, drunk etc.
Many of the posts that I appear in would seem to indicate a great fondness for wine. In reality I may have a drink once a week, but that is not what my posts indicate in a joking sort of way. I guess that is why I lock down my account as best I can to family and friends.
I would hate to think that an innocent joke on fb could compromise my position according to the Code of Conduct. The review of this code, which is currently being undertaken, reflects the intensity of scrutiny that teachers are under. Every action needs to be carefully considered taking into account the privacy laws, the vulnerable children legislation, the education act, the school policies and the least used one - good old common sense. Teachers must never be alone with a child - I get that - no photos can be published without parental permission - I understand that, but wonder how long it will be before a student can challenge that decision in their own right - I must not hug a child - no - can't work with that. That is a bridge too far. If I can make a difference in students lives I need to be able to meet their social, emotional and educational needs. If legislation will prevent that, then it is time I found another way of earning a living.
I am happy to see restrictions on the use of digital media as we struggle to help our students understand the whys and what ifs, and I guess we need to look at exactly those issues for our own image and images.
Hi Jane, I have been reading numerous different blogs in relation to this last journal for this assignment, and I have to say, this one was the most interesting one for me. I completely agree. There is no hiding the fact that people do look up each other, parents in your classroom are on Facebook and I have no doubt that they search their child's teacher and take a scroll through. Principals scroll through potential employer's profiles to make sure that they have nothing to hide etc. Really enjoyed reading your blog and so much discussion comes from this particular journal. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, I totally agree with you, that if we are no longer able to show emotional supports for our students, how do we support their emotional development? After reading the ethical requirements I started to wonder just how similar these requirements are to that of our politicians? It's a pity that our salaries don't reflect the ethical responsibility associated with our profession :( I would assume that's how politician justify their extravagant salaries! A thought to ponder...
DeleteI like this...quote
ReplyDelete'If I can make a difference in students lives I need to be able to meet their social, emotional and educational needs. If legislation will prevent that, then it is time I found another way of earning a living.'
However, being male and in the teaching profession, sadly puts you in one of the most vulnerable positions, we must be so careful. Fortunately in my position as both teacher and in a pastoral care capacity as a Housemaster I am able to offer the boys a hug. Genuine care that allows for physical contact (a hug or a pat on the back or an 'arm wrestle') in my mind, is essential for the wellbeing of a student who will thrive in the classroom.
Thanks for your post.
Yes, your right. I looked up a new colleague and found a teacher in the USA (with the same name) who had plead guilty to sexual misconduct with a teenage student. Then, when I found their actual facebook page, this created my first impression of the colleague as caring family centred person.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of keeping students safe, I found the Netsafe information for parents (https://www.netsafe.org.nz/online-safety-for-parents/) very helpful. It helped me appreciate that I needed to keep an eye on what my children are doing, teach them safe use, set expectations and educate myself about the apps they are using. But, having said this, my youngest still set up a facebook page before he was 13 and now knows how to search the web anonymously. So, as fast you try to keep them safe using cyber-safety restrictions with filters and blockers, they can find with a simple search, apps and instructions on ways to avoid detection. Thus, I wonder about the mental health of some of our youth today. Research (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/teenagers-and-sleep) shows that teenagers need 9-10 hours of sleep a night. Other research shows that teenagers are most active on social during the night (http://www.futurity.org/social-media-sleep-teens-1008052-2/) and this is obviously detrimental to their learning.
The challenge ahead of us, both as parents and teachers, is to support students in making healthy choices around the use of the internet to ensure their well-being.