Wednesday, January 8, 2014
2nd year teacher,
biems,
challenges,
drama teacher,
education,
facebook,
instagram,
middle school teacher,
students,
teenagers,
vine
Can I Get In Trouble For This?
As most of you know (or maybe not), teachers have a lot of rules, regulations, and legality worries that are drilled into our heads during college. I like rules, I'm a rule follower! But there are rules that a find a little hard pressed.
For example, taking pictures of the students and filming their in-class performances. You know the whole "a picture is worth a thousand words" sentiment? Well there are pictures of my students that are hilarious that I'd love to upload and share, but I'm terrified! I understand that it's because they're minors and there are possible dangers in it..... BUT, in this day and age what ISN'T uploaded and shared? The kids go to the restroom during class and take selfies and upload it to their instagram!
I want to be able to share their creative performances and skits that they come up with but I can't, and I feel like it's a shame.
One of my favorite things to do is to document my life and experiences. I take pictures like I'm a tourist, I've kept journals since I was in junior high, I've kept notes that were written to me from high school! I'm a historian of my life and the things that happen in it, and my students are a huge part of that now, but I can't post it. I find facebook and instagram to be an extension of my documentation and scrapbook. I only post pictures of them once they've graduated and are no longer my student.
The thing that irks me is that I have fellow teachers who posts pictures of their students all the time on facebook! So does that mean I'm allowed to? I honestly just want to share their work or hilarity to everyone else and let everyone enjoy and love them as much as I do! But I can't because there's that Hitchcock shower scene song in the back of my head every time I feel like uploading something that has a student in it.
I just think that with technology and social media the way it is, it gets more and more difficult to avoid these things. If I didn't take a picture or record something, a student has and it's instantly on facebook, instagram, or vine in seconds anyway!
I just gotta pick and choose my battles, I guess! I love my job too much to get fired or sued over something like posting a picture of a student!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
One option you have, for example, is to send home with the students a type of 'release' form. State that, as part of your teachings, it's sometimes necessary to film or document your students. Also, provide a specific site for parents and students both to access said photos or videos. I don't see the harm in it, but of course you always have to walk the line of caution these days. You never know when you'll run into a bad situation and someone makes something of nothing. If I was you, I wouldn't worry too much. If for some reason, in the future, someone is opposed to it, then opt to leave said student out of it. I doubt most parents would mind, especially since we live in a 'selfie' generation. Even the president takes them, haha. Love you BIFFLE.
Jess P
Your school needs to have policies in place that answers these sorts of questions, so there isn't any confusion as to what is or isn't allowed. I think with the way technology and society is changing at such a rapid pace it's hard for schools to keep up with implementing new policies to address these concerns though.
Post a Comment