The Public Eye - Social Networks
Teachers are leaders, role models and have an image to uphold for the tamaiti they teach, their whānau and the wider school community. I believe their professional reputation is VITAL, but is a teacher's personal reputation just as important? Cine Learning’s (2016) video on current social media dilemma’s recognises the impact a teacher’s personal life can have over their professional one and highlights the importance of upholding a strong positive image out of school hours.
In today's online world there are many social media applications such as facebook, instagram, snapchat and twitter, to just name a few that allows posts, images and videos to be seen, shared and sent to others without consent. This increased exposure of one's online self has created a whole new set of ethical dilemmas that educators need to be fully aware of. Connecticut's Teacher Education and Mentoring Program (2012) makes reference to many issues that could arise in my teaching career and makes links to the Code of Conduct as they state that a professional educator shall “conduct himself or herself as a professional realizing that his or her actions reflect directly upon the status and substance of the profession” (p. 18).
Like many young professionals being very active on social media has become an unconscious part of daily life. If you go to teacher's college straight from high school you can graduate and be running your own classroom by the age of 21. A question that comes to mind is… What extent should a teacher’s personal life impact on their professional life? As teachers, especially as young professionals we need to be so aware of our actions outside of the workplace.
Personally at times I feel I am constantly making decisions in my personal life based on whether of or not students, whānau, colleagues and the wider community will see. This could be drinking with friends at a rugby match, taking funny (but could be seen as inappropriate) photos or videos that then could be shared on social media, or the liking of inappropriate videos, memes or getting tagged in something. Another dilemma that could arise is normally around your birthday. Facebook in particular is always the worst, friends posting all sorts of photos online (I had a teacher friend that had to ask for particular photos to be taken down due to being friends on social media with colleagues at school as the images would tarnish her reputation as a teacher). Social media is everywhere, you cannot escape it, but I feel teachers do need to be extremely conscious of the possible dilemmas.
I have looked at the school charter hoping to find information on our school's Code of Conduct policy. There is a Trustee and Principal’s code of ethics/ conduct, but nothing in regards to teachers and nothing in regards to digital material and professionalism. I suspect that if there was an issue in regards to social media, teachers and/or students the principal would be the first informed and then this information would be passed onto the Board of Trustees depending on the severity of the dilemma. The board would then take the appropriate course of action needed.
A non digital dilemma to finish with...
I have had close teaching friends teaching in high schools that have been at concerts or pubs and students are there intoxicated underage. What legal and ethical action do you take as their teacher? Or do you have no responsible obligation as is it outside of school hours?
References
Cinelearning. (2016, August 17). Teacher Ethics Video - Social Media Dilemma. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGQbLSEPN5w
Connecticut’s Teacher Education and Mentoring Program.(2012) Ethical and Professional Dilemmas for Educator: Facilitator’s Guide. Retrieved from http://www.ctteam.org/df/resources/Module5_Manual.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment