SN posting photos of her "special" students on FB and instagram

[Anonymous]

Take screenshots before you talk to her. You may never need to do anything with them, but better to have that if it does come up in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you are going to really put her down, she's excited and wants to help. WTF. It doesn't take a genius to figure out she's a sn teacher and pictures of her students etc.... there is nothing wrong she didn't state names or the disability.

When you identify the school, you are making it clear where these kids can be found. While the chances some pedophile figures kids with SN are easier prey will come get the kids is below 1%, it should be the parent's decision whether the child's photo is posted and special needs status is revealed.

Ok you are reaching here, not all sn are easier prey. I guess we should shutdown all students photos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Are teachers told things like this are inappropriate? Is there a code of ethics or some list of regulations? If not, I would not want to see her get in trouble. I'm pissed and if she were seasoned I'd say it's inexcusable. She is young and probably doesn't get why this is highly inappropriate and offensive.

Yes, teachers know that there are expectations of confidentiality. This information is reviewed many times.b what you describe is a violation of FERPA.

I'm a veteran teacher in MCPS and the only times that my administrators have discussed social media with us are to:
a) ask us not to be in contact with students via social media, and
b) ask us to watch what we ut up about ourselves on social media (pictures with alcohol, profanity, etc) no matter how "private" our settings seem.

I have better sense than to post personal details about my students on social media, but I'm a 40-something mom as well. Even so, I'm FB friends and IG followers of probably 200 other teachers (including those in SPED) and see countless postings with photos of students and identifying details about them. So, if this young lady is violating FERPA, so are dozens of other teachers across the country. Doesn't make it right, but they are doing it. So man be the information isn't as well and widely reviewed as people think.

OP here. Thanks for sharing your perspective. This is my concern. There need to be specific rules because clearly for many teachers "maintain confidentiality" is not enough. I can see how young teachers would struggle the most with this since many 20-somethings don't lead very private lives and the social norms are so different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take screenshots before you talk to her. You may never need to do anything with them, but better to have that if it does come up in the future.

OP here. I absolutely will and that's good advice, but man I hate that I have to gather evidence just in case.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher. Don't tell her or embarrass her. Email the principal and she will talk to the teacher and tell her to remove pics of students from all social media. It isn't right, but she isn't being malicious and probably doesn't realize she shouldn't post pics without permission. The principal needs to handle it, and tell the principal you don't want her to use your name when she talks to the teacher because you want a good working relationship with the teacher throughout the year. Did you sign any type of no-photography consent form at the school? Most schools have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you are going to really put her down, she's excited and wants to help. WTF. It doesn't take a genius to figure out she's a sn teacher and pictures of her students etc.... there is nothing wrong she didn't state names or the disability.

When you identify the school, you are making it clear where these kids can be found. While the chances some pedophile figures kids with SN are easier prey will come get the kids is below 1%, it should be the parent's decision whether the child's photo is posted and special needs status is revealed.

Ok you are reaching here, not all sn are easier prey. I guess we should shutdown all students photos.

Some public school systems have done this or the only photos they post are from a distance and no child is identifiable. Wait until the children are 18 and can consent for themselves regarding posting photos and films on social media. Until then, respect their privacy and protect them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Don't tell her or embarrass her. Email the principal and she will talk to the teacher and tell her to remove pics of students from all social media. It isn't right, but she isn't being malicious and probably doesn't realize she shouldn't post pics without permission. The principal needs to handle it, and tell the principal you don't want her to use your name when she talks to the teacher because you want a good working relationship with the teacher throughout the year. Did you sign any type of no-photography consent form at the school? Most schools have them.

This is an interesting perspective and another possible way to handle it. I figured I was doing her a favor addressing her directly, but maybe it isn't the ideal approach. I agree that she is likely clueless. I have never signed anything stating my child's photo can or cannot be used. Where would I find such a document?

[Anonymous]

Did you have to sign something during registration saying that you don't want your dc in any district photos that are published anywhere? Granted, this is her personal page but it seems like that should apply and that she should be cognizant of who wants privacy and who doesn't. You definitely need to talk to her. However, she may tell you she'll stop but you'll have no idea if she changes her privacy settings so that you can't see the pictures but her friends and friends of friends will be able to see them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks you for the feedback. I think I may start with her and if she doesn't seem to get why I am annoyed I will love up the chain. I agree they grew up with oversharing so it's a different mentality. On the other hand it's so unprofessional. I also hate that she seems to see kids with SN as some sort of charity and she is so giving and amazing to help our poor defective kids. I doubt she meant to come across like this, but that was my initial impression.

Don't excuse her so quickly, just because she's young and used to sharing. My DD is only 12 and ANY time she takes a pic of someone she wants to share asks them "Can I post this on my Instagram page?" She absolutely understands the concept of confidentiality and she's in seventh grade.

FYI, she may just block YOU on FB and carry on with her picture-posting. That's why I said to take screen shots and show them to the principal.

[Anonymous]

This is interesting to me. In the two DC public charter schools my kids have attended I have had to sign photo releases each year with all the rest of the registration paperwork. The point was for the school to get permission - or not - to use my child's image in training videos, publicity photos, newsletters, grant applications and so forth.

A member of the school staff was in charge of all the photos to ensure that no pictures of kids who were not allowed to be shown weren't. Even the PTO would have any photos they took 'screened' before posting or printing anywhere.

The policy was well known to all staff and if they were to violate it there would have been disciplinary action.

I honestly assumed this would be standard practice everywhere.

[Anonymous]

I think going to her directly is kinder because she is going to get in trouble with the school if the principals finds out. As PP said, teacher have been fires for less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a great opportunity for her to learn about privacy. I would take a screen shot, get some time w the Principal an discuss.

It is clearly a message that needs to be reinforced to all teachers.

I would also connect w facebook and make them aware. Anything shared digitally has a life of its own.

+1. She probably is green and doesn't know privacy laws. She might be a good teacher though, and clearly she takes pride in her work.

[Anonymous]

I would email the screenshots to the principal FROM an anonymous email address like "concernedparent" or something.

I wouldn't want a teacher to take out my complaints on my child (you never know).

I would be livid if my child was identified as "special needs" on some random facebook/instagram. And I would not give permission to share her photos either. HUGE violation of privacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy hell she should know better. She's breaking the law. I'd email her principal ASAP.

Oh come on^^^^!! While I agree that she "should know better", please remember how green and naive you yourself were at your first professional job. I am 1000% sure that you made stupid mistakes and those around you also thought "Hmmm....Larla should really know better" but your co-workers were kind enough to NOT go to your boss - or in this case the principal of the school.

OP needs to deal with this directly with the teacher. Treat her like the professional adult that she is. She is an educated professional who made a mistake so give her the opportunity to fix her mistake and don't be one of THOSE parents that makes this teacher sour on being a teacher, especially a SpEd teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you are going to really put her down, she's excited and wants to help. WTF. It doesn't take a genius to figure out she's a sn teacher and pictures of her students etc.... there is nothing wrong she didn't state names or the disability.

When you identify the school, you are making it clear where these kids can be found. While the chances some pedophile figures kids with SN are easier prey will come get the kids is below 1%, it should be the parent's decision whether the child's photo is posted and special needs status is revealed.

Ok you are reaching here, not all sn are easier prey. I guess we should shutdown all students photos.

Let's say your child's teacher posts a picture of him and says something like "Love working with my slowest readers! They are dumb but so cute!" That would be cool with you, right? Because you don't want to "shutdown" sharing of student photos.