2008 Woodie Awards
Progress Report: Teachers have lives outside of the classroom
Jennifer O. Smith
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Soap Box
Let's face it: We live in an age where everything one puts online can be seen. Employers now search possible candidates' profiles on sites like Facebook and Myspace to determine whether or not the applicant is the kind of person they want to hire. Got some pictures up that you wouldn't want seen? You might want to take a moment and make your profile friends-only or private.
Think that was a pain? Now imagine someone monitoring everything you say and do. Welcome to the life of a potential teacher. We have to be wary of how accessible our profiles are in case our students decide to look us up online. This was learned the hard way last year by Stacy Snyder, a student at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, whose Myspace page featured a photo of her with the caption "Drunken Pirate."
In the college of education, we are given a few suggestions on how to avoid trouble, such as not buying alcohol in the same city or town you teach in. Let's think about this: When I'm at the supermarket, I can't simply pick up a six-pack or a bottle of wine because a parent might see me with it. Instead, I should go out of my way to pick up one item, thus wasting gas and forcing me to spend more money. Just because I am walking through the supermarket with alcohol does not mean I am on a raging bender. So here's one way to make teachers' lives easier: Remember that old adage about assuming, and try to treat us like we're responsible.
Also, when we are out shopping or dining at a restaurant, that's not the time we want to talk about our students. We're more than happy to speak with you about your child - when we are in our teacher clothes and mindset. Thus, my second point: We do have lives outside of the school building. We don't just curl up in our supply cabinets like academic mummies, to be rediscovered every Monday through Friday morning by our students. If you are concerned, schedule a meeting with your child's teacher, or see if he or she has a school-only email address.
Think that was a pain? Now imagine someone monitoring everything you say and do. Welcome to the life of a potential teacher. We have to be wary of how accessible our profiles are in case our students decide to look us up online. This was learned the hard way last year by Stacy Snyder, a student at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, whose Myspace page featured a photo of her with the caption "Drunken Pirate."
In the college of education, we are given a few suggestions on how to avoid trouble, such as not buying alcohol in the same city or town you teach in. Let's think about this: When I'm at the supermarket, I can't simply pick up a six-pack or a bottle of wine because a parent might see me with it. Instead, I should go out of my way to pick up one item, thus wasting gas and forcing me to spend more money. Just because I am walking through the supermarket with alcohol does not mean I am on a raging bender. So here's one way to make teachers' lives easier: Remember that old adage about assuming, and try to treat us like we're responsible.
Also, when we are out shopping or dining at a restaurant, that's not the time we want to talk about our students. We're more than happy to speak with you about your child - when we are in our teacher clothes and mindset. Thus, my second point: We do have lives outside of the school building. We don't just curl up in our supply cabinets like academic mummies, to be rediscovered every Monday through Friday morning by our students. If you are concerned, schedule a meeting with your child's teacher, or see if he or she has a school-only email address.
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