“Social Media Find Place in Classroom”, by Greg Toppo, is an
article addresses the issue of using social media within the classroom.
Although both sides have a valid argument, I find myself right in the middle of
the controversy. On the one hand, I don’t find it appropriate for teachers,
faculty, and even the principal to be friends with their students on any social
media page, especially in middle school and high school; once the students are
in college, that’s a different story. But, I think there needs to be that
boundary between the students’ lives and the teachers’ lives. Especially so
because much can be misconstrued between posts and pictures in which either
party could find inappropriate. On the other hand, I think that these teachers
and faculty are really onto something in regards to educating their students.
In the article, I learned that some teachers want to teach their students the
rules and regulations of the Internet in order for them to be safer and more
educated on the matter. Also, by educating the students, they will not only be
more aware of what they are putting out there, but they will also develop
different techniques to promote themselves for the future, whether that is for
external or internal reasons. Overall, I think there needs to be a middle
ground because it will allow for the students to be more engaged within the
classroom as well as keeping the appropriate relationships among teachers and
students.
