Comments on: Targeting teacher-student communications

By: D. Jason Fleming (deejf) 's status on Thursday, 05-Nov-09 19:08:21 UTC - Identi.ca

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:08:25 +0000

[...] http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/11/targeting-teacher-student-communications/ a few seconds ago from IdentiFox [...]

By: Swede

Swede — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:35:32 +0000

Margo/Mom is 100% correct. There are so many ways to manage communication between students and teachers that are above board and easily tracked. I check my work email religiously at night and over the weekend. I communicate relatively frequently with students and parents (and colleagues) with it. It is simple and fast.

By: Tweets that mention Targeting teacher-student communications « Joanne Jacobs -- Topsy.com

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:53:39 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by kriley19, JoanneLeeJacobs. JoanneLeeJacobs said: Districts limit one-on-one teacher-student communications: http://bit.ly/2c5PIv [...]

By: Margo/Mom

Margo/Mom — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:12:26 +0000

As a parent, I don’t think that there is much to be gained by banning communications media. That said, there are many, many ways to cut down on abuse and the possible use of such tools for illegal acts. A school intranet, or controlled social networking software (facebook like with access limited to students and school personnel), provision of district cell phones to teachers, teacher web-pages with blog, listserv or bulletin board capabilities. The key is to shine as much light as possible on the communication so that it becomes no different from any other teacher/student encounter within the school hallway during school hours. This also can serve as a means of modelling appropriate online communications to students who are already way ahead of us in meeting people we might rather that they not be conversing with.

By: Parent2

Parent2 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:44:33 +0000

Computer technology has made it possible for businesses to communicate with employees, suppliers and customers around the clock. That’s one reason for the rise in “efficiency” associated with the use of technology. I’m not questioning teachers’ decisions not to be available around the clock. I personally feel that modern companies go too far. However, if schools will outright forbid employees’ use of the most effective aspects of technology, because experience has shown it to be fraught with difficulties, why are public school systems rushing to throw more money into technology? If you won’t use what you have already, why buy more?

By: Darren

Darren — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:06:36 +0000

I give my graduating seniors my Yahoo email address, but that’s all. I wouldn’t consider giving current students that email, with the exception perhaps of the president of one of my sponsored clubs’ needing to get in touch with me about an upcoming event (but that’s never happened). My school email is readily available, but I don’t check that on my “home time”.

I don’t fault those who *do* have more personal contact with students, it’s just not somewhere I want to go. I certainly don’t see a log or a ban as protecting any students from predators.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:38:48 +0000

I list my home phone number on my board for my classes so that students can call me in the evenings if they need assistance or have any questions about an assignment. I know that many of my colleagues do the same.

This type of regulation will make it more likely that teachers will stop offering these services, as it will become yet another form to fill out. Teachers with legitimate purposes for student contact will be incentiviced to stop that conduct, and many teachers will be unnecessary reprimanded for failing to document all calls. Those individuals who are seeking illicit contact with students will continue to do so.