Teachers and Social Networking!

Using the Internet needs to be treated with respect and responsibility. The world of cyber space is growing faster, perhaps as fast a “speeding bullet” but with that speed, like a bullet, boundaries must be followed and teachers as role models should be standing at the front of the cyber space line! It is a teacher’s opportunity to show students, through the internet how they can grow in knowledge, while paving the way as responsible cyber space users. This is just the beginning of new mode of learning that may produce more than we can ever imagine, let’s walk this journey safely!
Teacher’s need to fully understand that they can be removed from their teaching positions’; if their behavior outside school (including on the Web) makes them ineffective in the classroom and more importantly if they compromise the ethical values of their school and community. The courts will generally support a school system's decision to release a teacher under the above circumstances; even if a crime has not been committed.
When searching for my name on line I discovered that the path was straight and direct; it led me to my Facebook and My Space Home pages. Responsibility and privacy are a top priority for me because then it becomes my decision, who I allow in my internet community. The internet allows me the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills but also gives me the chance to maintain the bond with people I have met through out my life and to do this in an internet “living room.” I would not change one moment of my internet socialization because it has really opened the door for me to look at and talk with the people that are important to me! One should remember as a teacher our responsibility, as role models does not stop when we walk out of the classroom; it only becomes more necessary for us to be vigilant on how we live out the values, that we talk about in the classroom. A teacher has a right to leave the classroom and have a personal life but also as human being that are teachers, we must understand, even more than some that there are consequences to our behavior.
Americans tend to think that the First Amendment means that they can say (or publish) whatever they want. But the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that governments can fire employees if their speech harms the mission and function of their workplace. A teacher like all human beings has a right to have ideas and thoughts on policy issues as long as they are discreet on how they express these thoughts. Example being when one Blogs, a teacher should think carefully about what they are discussing; whether it is school duty preferences or principals wardrobe, this does not break the first amendment but is it the best way to resolve or discuss an issue?
Consequently, with the digital age comes teacher responsibility and we must remember using the internet irresponsibly could cost one their current job and adversely affect their future career in teaching. After reading the article: “Have you Goggled Your Teacher Lately,” this made it clear that my internet world was open to all, so it was my job to see that the internet book on Mike Soriano is clear, honest and succinct. This means that the internet can and should be used as a learning tool but not as a social network with the students that our in my school community. It certainly is a wonderful way to reconnect with a student who has left your classroom community because if you are a “good” teacher, you always care about where that students path as taken them. I could understand after many years reconnecting with students after they have gone through there educational journey with you because once you let a student in your heart they really never leave; it certainly has been a wonderful gift for me to communicate with some of my past teachers and let them know the journey I am taking and that they had some part of that decision.