This week we have been focusing on privacy on Facebook. We read an article, http://thejournal.com/articles/2008/11/19/suspended-teacher-in-facebook-incident-ignites-debate-should-online-privacy-for-educators-exist.aspx, about a teacher getting fired over making a comment on her Facebook account about her school. I don't think people accept and realize that the very nature of the Web is public and shared information. When my son was in private high school, MySpace was all the rage. The school actually went into all of their students accounts. If there was any mention of drugs, drinking, sex or smoking, the student was expelled. I thought the punishment was too severe and luckily my son didn't have anything to be repriomanded for on his account. In my opinion, the parents should have been notified and have been the ones to deal with the situation.. But, I suppose the students got a rude awakening to just how public the Web is and that there is a responsibility that comes with everything we say or do. Even though there are privacy settings, it doesn't mean it's private.
The question was posed to us whether we think that teachers should be afforded more privacy on social networking sites. I don't believe that they should have any privileges above what anyone else has. The only thing that I think is necessary is that the identity of the students must be protected. When using a social networking tool for class, teachers must teach the students about the public nature of the Web and how they must use caution when posting everything. With every freedom, comes responsibility. The greater the freedom, the greater the responsibility.
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