Teachers as Public Figures

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Teachers as Public Figures

by certifiedteach

Aug 16, 2009

The Facebook topic has made me think. As a more experienced teacher, what would you/do you tell younger teachers about their role as a public figure in the community? I feel it goes beyond just the fact that we work with kids. It is the fact that schools are so important to a community's overall image, home values, etc, as well as the fact that we don't impact just a few lives, but many, many lives over the course of our careers. What experiences have you had regarding this? I have a colleague who belonged to the local Y in town many years ago. She taught Kindergarten. One day, as she was taking off her swimsuit in the women's locker room, in walks one of her male students and his mom! She was mortified, she knew this little boy and his peers were much more aware than even mommy might like to think, and from that point on she joined a gym farther from where we taught so this would not be likely to ever happen again. Funny now, but not at the time. So much to consider when you are a tea...See More

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joe That sounds like some serious bad luck!~ I must say, this is one of the reasons I don;t have a facebook account. There are always going to be a few parents who don't like you for one reason or another...if you provide any ammunition on one of these websites, you might be sunk. Not worth the trouble, imo.

On 8/16/09, certifiedteach wrote: &...See More

Aug 17, 2009

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not worried I think it depends on your lifestyle whether or not you have to worry about anything. I do not worry. I live 7 minutes from where I teach. I shop and run into parents all the time. One mom works at walmart... one at dollar tree... a few at fast food places... one at kmart... grocery stores... I don't hide from anything... why would I live where I d...See MoreI think it depends on your lifestyle whether or not you have to worry about anything. I do not worry. I live 7 minutes from where I teach. I shop and run into parents all the time. One mom works at walmart... one at dollar tree... a few at fast food places... one at kmart... grocery stores... I don't hide from anything... why would I live where I do and work where I work if I was afraid to live my life. AND... I have a facebook. I dont think twice about what I put up there... because there is nothing I need to hide.

NOW.. I do know that there are teachers out there that do live multiple lifestyles and I have been a mentor to a few that may put up too much on those sites for the world to see. I mention it in passing about parents googling etc. And then they cant say that they were not warned.

I feel this way about anyone in the pubic eye... celebs to politicians and everyone in between... If you live your life in fear then youre probably doing something wrong. Its called a conscience... everyone has one... but it also goes back to your character...

just my opinion

On 8/17/09, joe wrote: > That sounds like some serious bad luck!~ I must say, this is > one of the reasons I don;t have a facebook account. There > are always going to be a few parents who don't like you for > one reason or another...if you provide any ammunition on one > of these websites, you might be sunk. Not worth the trouble, > imo. > > On 8/16/09, certifiedteach wrote: >> The Facebook topic has made me think. As a more experienced >> teacher, what would you/do you tell younger teachers about >> their role as a public figure in the community? I feel it >> goes beyond just the fact that we work with kids. It is the >> fact that schools are so important to a community's overall >> image, home values, etc, as well as the fact that we don't >> impact just a few lives, but many, many lives over the >> course of our careers. What experiences have you had >> regarding this? >> I have a colleague who belonged to the local Y in town many >> years ago. She taught Kindergarten. One day, as she was >> taking off her swimsuit in the women's locker room, in walks >> one of her male students and his mom! She was mortified, she >> knew this little boy and his peers were much more aware than >> even mommy might like to think, and from that point on she >> joined a gym farther from where we taught so this would not >> be likely to ever happen again. Funny now, but not at the >> time. So much to consider when you are a teacher... >> Thanks for your responses.

Aug 19, 2009

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