At various junctures of my youth in the Philadelphia area, I didn’t give much credence to advice or guidance that originated from my parents. I trusted them and believed they had my best interests at heart, but seemed to reject parental perspective on nearly every issue almost immediately. While there were occasions when I would reflect and determine that their logic “wasn’t completely flawed” and should be considered strongly before making my own decisions, many times it took another adult (usually one of my trusted teachers, coaches, or club advisors) providing nearly the same advice as Mr. and Mrs. Peluzzo, for me to follow said guidance with confidence. I share this flashback into my American youth because it came to mind as I began to evaluate one of the many roles teachers play in our schools, perhaps especially in our high schools, as mentors and examples for our students.
Most in our profession would agree the best teachers in America and around the world do not simply help students achieve success in the classroom, but serve as valuable “sounding boards” for their students as they face a myriad of issues in their young lives. Whether they ask for our take on what jobs to apply for during the school year and over the summer, how to talk to a coach about playing time they feel they should get the chance to earn, or how get help when personal struggles occur in their lives, students depend on us as their teachers to be the mentor they can talk to during those uncertain moments when their parents, family, or friends “don’t understand” them. Being accessible and friendly with our students through the process of educating them presents many challenges, especially in the 21st century.
As an educator that makes being accessible to students, parents, and other stakeholders/members of the local community a priority, I also value the need to create boundaries that protect all stakeholders. While I could list several suggestions for keeping healthy boundaries with students (most of which are common sense and you already know), I think that tech boundaries present the most questions and fewest clear answers. Here are a few simple suggestions I use to remain accessible in the 21st century while establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries:
1) Create a Twitter Account: Ask Students to Follow You, Do Not Follow them Back...
Twitter, in addition to other social media outlets, are invaluable tools for educators who are serious about connecting with other professionals around the world. I have been inspired by several fellow educators on a wide range of areas and read numerous scholarly articles and blog postings to expand my knowledge base in our field. In addition, Twitter has served as a critical connection point for me to my students, school building, district, and community as a whole. While I have followed several students post-graduation who are majoring in education at college, have an interest in history and politics, or who I have become close with through their family or community activities, I make it a practice not to follow any students currently enrolled in our schools. In addition, I do not direct message (a.k.a. DM) any current students.
While students initially object to me not “following back”, they typically see my side after I ask them, “Do you really want your teachers, even those you like, following you on social media?” While students may occasionally respond by saying they only engage in appropriate behavior on social media, I take this opportunity to explain why boundaries are good for all of us to establish as we seek to make personal connections with colleagues and fellow professionals throughout our lives. The social media culture we live in at times places an unhealthy imperative on people to share every moment of their lives with the public and their “friends”, whether they be personal, odd or innocuous in nature; having this conversation with your classes can hopefully restore sanity to some of the social media madness we’ve seen and create healthy boundaries for us all.
2) Discuss with students “When to Tweet” vs. “When to Email/Talk in Person”...
When teachers communicate with or “Tweet at” students on Twitter, the messages are public for all to see. Most of the time, my students ask questions about homework assignments, upcoming tests, or if we are relocating to a lab or the media center for the day through their Twitter accounts. This information being public not only creates an important boundary to protect both sides of the message, but it also informs the rest of my students! If other students in a class forgot the homework or were on their way to the wrong location for class, they can pull out their phones and check the Twitter feed if they don’t see a note on the door or bump into a classmate in the halls! Last year, I also experimented with late passes using Twitter, which seemed to be well received by both colleagues and students. All of these are examples of the benefits of using the public “Tweet at” feature of Twitter.
However, it is important to remind students on the first day of school (and whenever necessary) that not all communications with a teacher should be through Twitter/social media. If a student is absent for an extended period of time due to illness, death in the family, or some other private matter or difficulty, they should email you on your school account or speak to you in person.
In so many words, this was my message to students on the first day about this important distinction:
Every struggle in your life does not need to be shared with your “friends” on social
media. Some events in your life should be private, so you and your families can do
what you have to do without public notification. If, and I mean if, I need to be
informed or can be helpful to you and your family in one of these situations, talk to
our counselors and use your school email or talk to me in person.
With another school year now underway, the formalities and class procedures explained, textbooks distributed, and Edmodo, Classroom Moodle, or Google Classroom enrollments completed, perhaps taking some time to discuss these and other policies with your students can ensure safe and strong tech communication between students and teachers. Boundaries are good and necessary as technology continues to evolve at an impressive, yet unpredictable pace.
