A student from a school I don't work at just spoke to me about teachers being "friends" on Facebook with students.

It was a good time to talk with her about how teachers have a professional obligation and desire to help students understand online safety. That teachers aren't paid to be friends, but rather paid to educate and while that can mean having a good relationship with students, it doesn't mean turning a blind eye when kids are doing in appropriate things in public online forums or elsewhere. In fact it means letting them know the implications of their actions in a constructive, positive way.

It seemed like she had never heard it before, but completely understood where I was coming from.

Makes me wonder why more teachers aren't having this conversation with kids.

They want to need to hear it and appreciate it when adults communicate with them fairly and openly and honestly (are those all the same thing). Ultimately they like knowing that we have their best interest in mind even when they don't like what we do sometimes.

Again...why doesn't this happen more?

Is there something that teachers hold back on? Why would they? Is it something about maintaining a professional distance?

Not sure...I do know that there are lots of ways to be a good effective teacher, and this is just one, but I guess I just wonder why conversations like this with kids aren't happening more.

Hmmm....