What+are+some+positive+and+negative+effects+of+teachers+and+faculty+having+Facebook+and+Myspace?

What are some positive and negative effects of teachers and faculty having Facebook and MySpace? by Matt McKinnon

1. Mallory Simon. “Online student-teacher friendships can be tricky”. CNN.com. 13 Aug 2008 Retrieved from []

This article is very interesting as it explore both sides to the debate whether or not teachers and faculty should have online friendships with students. It explains how Mr. Randy Turner, a teacher in Joplin, Missouri use s Facebook to connect with his students. It shows that social networking sites can be used to benefit the students as it gives them an outlet for students to connect with their teachers in a casual setting and ask questions concerning schoolwork. The article also shows that Facebook and MySpace can be very dangerous as they may lead to inappropriate relationships between teachers and students. In Mr. Turner’s home state of Missouri 11 teachers have been arrested for inappropriate relationships with students in the last two years. With almost all of these stemming from social networking interaction, a bill is in the process of being passed that would prohibit elementary teachers to have social networking friendships with their students.

2. Alex Lundy. “ Education Committee chairwoman proposes prohibiting teacher-student interaction online”. The Missourian. 30 Jan 2008. Retrieved from []

This article goes into greater detail of the bill being passed in the Missouri House of Representatives that was mentioned in the first article. It focuses on only the negative aspects of student-teacher social network interaction. It explains the reasoning for the bill as to fill holes in the screening process of teachers in the state. Supporters of the bill say it will keep sexual predators out of the classroom and away from the students. They say that social networking relationships are not healthy because a third party cannot see interactions between teachers and students. 3. “Schools Consider Teacher-Student Facebook Ban”. Fox 12 Oregon. KPTV.com. 20 Nov 2009. Retrieved from []

This news article deals with a school district in Oregon wanting to create a policy that prohibits teachers from “friending” their students on sites like Facebook and MySpace. The policy seems to be less strict as others as it allows interaction on these sites if the student and teacher have known each other a long time before school. I could see this causing problems with the rule as the line between what is acceptable and what is not alright seems to be up for debate.

4. Cheri Lucas. “Should Students and Teachers Be Online ‘Friends’?”. Education.com. nd. Retrieved from []

This article is very informative as it not only shows that the interaction between students and teachers on social networking sites can be dangerous but it often causes the loss of respect for the teacher. Through this type of interaction the student views the teacher as they would one of their peers and the respect and learning capabilities often suffer. Lucas makes the point that both students and teachers are different outside of school than they are in school and she believe the two should still be separated quite a bit.

5. “Christopher French”. BadBadTeacher.com. 05 Oct 2009. Retrieved from []

This article gives you’re the progression of the trial of Christopher M. French from Winchester, MA who was charged with child rape and enticement using social networking sites. He was a teacher at the McCall Middle School and many of the children he had relationships with were students at the school. Some were as young as 13. This is an example of the serious negative consequences of social networking relationships between teachers and students.

Score:**
 * Name:
 * **Points awarded** || **(Points Possible) Criteria** ||
 * 1 || (1) Research was summarized on the team's issue page. ||
 * 2 || (2) Five articles summarized, including: ||
 * - || • (1) At least one editorial or opinion article ||
 * 1 || • (1) At least one analysis article from a magazine or reputable newspaper. ||
 * - || • (1) At least one journal article. ||
 * - || • (1) At least one related ERIC summary article ||
 * 2 || (3) Article entries include its APA* citation, a summary paragraph, and a reaction paragraph. ||
 * 6 || **Total Points** ||
 * (or other bibliographical format)