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Absolutely. I'm pretty skeptical that blog posting served any positive purpose for this person that any of the above, more discreet and professional methods of dealing with likely understandable frustration would have done. It's just plain bad judgment. Live and learn.
I agree with you. Unfortunately, those same students can start a blog or worse steal this teacher's picture, and post it on line, rant about her, even create lies about her, and all that happens to these students is a slap on the hand. The school district can't even punish these kids, because according to the ACLU, the students have the freedom of speech and the right to rant and blog about the teacher, even if their intent is to damage the teacher's credibility. Go figure that one. My school district just had a mandatory training on this very subject, and warned us to be careful about what we post on line, especially when it comes to our students, and befriending students on social networks.
I actually feel for the kids, especially those in high school. They are asked to do so much and never have enough time, energy or maturity to do it all. Not to mention, they are not the ones making decisions, their parents are. Teenagers don't have the power to dictate any of their own terms (i.e. what they need to accomplish all of the things that they are asked to accomplish, like when to go to sleep, what to eat, etc.).
I used to feel that way about high school until I went to college. Then I realized that high school was so relaxing and easy compared to college - there was no reason to complain. Then I entered the workforce and yearned for the college days because now I have even less free time. Looking back on it, high school was (or should have been) a breeze.
I can't recall the exact year of school but the students were much older than 9 years old though. Seemed more like the parents sided with the schools and teachers back then rather than ever thinking that their lil johnny was an angel. Now it seems to be the complete opposite. A teacher only has to say something and it's all on them. I'm sure there was probably a few back in the 'dark ages' [haha] that thought that but the majority seemed to side with the administration.
Must have been tough upholding that "model student" behaviour w/ a parental unit on the school board
I agree that there are too many defensive parents. There are so many divorces and each parent wants to curry the favor of the kids, so they are wary of saying their kid was wrong in the face of school accusations. This may not be the root of all problems, but I was shocked in two cases in which women for whom I had great respect and admiration lambasted their son's teachers for daring to call attention to the poor attitudes of these boys. Children often have different attitudes when in the company of peers, and also treat other adults differently than parents. Rather than investigate a claim these women came out like mama grizzlys. That is not preparing a child for a future, in my opinion.
On top of that there seem to be some inarticulate, poorly educated, and just all around unscholarly people who are allowed to teach today. The profession does not get the respect that it used to because the bad ones are tolerated and schools either will not or cannot fire them.
Last edited by goldengrain; 02-21-2011 at 01:56 PM..
BTW, I *hate* ratemyprofessor.com with a passion. From personal experience, the professors who get the high marks are the ones who tend to give little homework, expect little from the students and who act more like a friend than an authority figure. Of course, the ones with the lower marks are the ones who ::gasp:: expect their students to work hard and think for themselves and who don't play favorites.
Alas, like Tabula Rosa said, students are not bound by professional expectations.
Too true. ratemyprofessor didn't exist yet when I was a college student, but every once in a while, I look up my alma mater on it, out of curiosity, given that a couple of my good friends/fellow alums are now professors there themselves.
I notice that the professors I had that I REALLY admired, because they were tough, thought-provoking, and really got me thinking are typically the ones vilified, because they're "hard," and "show preferential treatment to the smart kids." Hah. The instructors that I'm familiar with who got the highest student scores are the ones who were either very easy graders and/or were younger and physically attractive, to boot.
My school district just had a mandatory training on this very subject, and warned us to be careful about what we post on line, especially when it comes to our students, and befriending students on social networks.
We are strongly encouraged not to befriend students, past or present, on social networks, or their parents. It's not policy, but it's strongly discouraged.
We are strongly encouraged not to befriend students, past or present, on social networks, or their parents. It's not policy, but it's strongly discouraged.
Past students, I don't have a problem with especially if they are adult. I have been teaching elementary school for 18 years, and to my surprise some of my former students that I taught 18, 17, 16, and 15 years ago who are now in their late 20s and early 30s have found me to let me know how they have been doing. I would not befriend any former student still in high school or try to contact them. My junior high school teacher contacts me, and I am now 44. So go figure.
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haha] that thought that but the majority seemed to side with the administration.
