HOUSTON – When it comes to social networking, Michael Garfield is a pro.
“You can’t go anywhere without finding someone on Facebook,” said Garfield, the self proclaimed “Mayor of Facebook.”
Also known as the High Tech Texan, Garfield is an Internet-savvy radio talk show host and a parent.
And with the start of another school year around the corner, he’s bringing up something else parents should think about.
“It used to be email and (websites) where they’re surfing,” said Garfield, referring to what parents should monitor. “Now they’re having their own Facebook accounts. You have to keep aware of who they’re talking to and when they’re online.”
That includes teachers.
Two years ago, a FOX 26 investigation uncovered several teacher-owned Facebook accounts.
We found questionable pictures of the people we trust to educate our children.
Since then, the issue’s been raised: should teachers and students be friends on social networking sites?
“I for one say no,” said Garfield.
“I have a personal policy that I will not friend a current student that is at the school I teach,” said Andy Dewey, a teacher at Carnegie Vanguard High School.
Yes, Dewey is on Facebook. And yes, he taught most of his online friends. But Dewey says his page was off limits to them until they graduated.
Why?
“I may have to fail them,” he said. I may have to discipline them in some way or another, and just the idea of calling them ‘friends’ in any context may hinder me or make me less effective in doing those things.”
A district spokesperson says HISD, our area’s largest school district, doesn’t have a policy on usage between teachers and students, nor does it have any recommendations.
But could that change?
“I think right now, if not very soon, school districts are going to start issuing policies to their teachers,” said Garfield.
Discuss this topic on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=11759793021&topic=7244
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