If parents can have social media, teachers can too. I assume those concerned about this feel this way because teachers are role models for students. Well, so are parents. And aunts and uncles. And coaches. And millions of other adults who also have social media accounts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it's just a mistake. I had to let DD's middle school assistant principal know that I thought his dog was super cute and congrats on his time on last weekend's race. He hadn't realized.

Why did you “have to” let him know?

So he could make it private!

Why did you think he wanted to or should make it private? Why is it your job to tell an adult what to post?

Oh my god. You are creating a problem where there was none. He was grateful I told him, he hadn't realized, and made it private. He was applying to become principal in another school within the district - having his social media private was a smart move. I didn't say "You should make it private" but more "You may not have realized, but the kids found your social media - cute dog, by the way - so I wanted to let you know in case that wasn't your intention."

This aggravates me so much. I’m the teacher without social media who posted above, but why should I care if a family sees that I have a cute dog or ran in some race?

Why does my mere existence outside of the classroom have to be treated as if it is somehow wrong? The examples you provided are 100% innocent, yet the fact you felt the need to suggest to the principal these posts should be private implies that any life outside of a classroom is unsavory.

Educators are entitled to a life, and we shouldn’t feel bad about having interests outside of our profession. Ugh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it's just a mistake. I had to let DD's middle school assistant principal know that I thought his dog was super cute and congrats on his time on last weekend's race. He hadn't realized.

Why did you “have to” let him know?

So he could make it private!

Why did you think he wanted to or should make it private? Why is it your job to tell an adult what to post?

Oh my god. You are creating a problem where there was none. He was grateful I told him, he hadn't realized, and made it private. He was applying to become principal in another school within the district - having his social media private was a smart move. I didn't say "You should make it private" but more "You may not have realized, but the kids found your social media - cute dog, by the way - so I wanted to let you know in case that wasn't your intention."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it's just a mistake. I had to let DD's middle school assistant principal know that I thought his dog was super cute and congrats on his time on last weekend's race. He hadn't realized.

Why did you “have to” let him know?

So he could make it private!

Posts about dogs and race times are innocuous. Why do they need to be private?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it's just a mistake. I had to let DD's middle school assistant principal know that I thought his dog was super cute and congrats on his time on last weekend's race. He hadn't realized.

Why did you “have to” let him know?

So he could make it private!

Why did you think he wanted to or should make it private? Why is it your job to tell an adult what to post?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it's just a mistake. I had to let DD's middle school assistant principal know that I thought his dog was super cute and congrats on his time on last weekend's race. He hadn't realized.

Why did you “have to” let him know?

So he could make it private!

Anonymous wrote:Why is your kid trolling adults on social media?

This OP why is your kid on that teachers social media!

This is a you problem not the teacher

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it's just a mistake. I had to let DD's middle school assistant principal know that I thought his dog was super cute and congrats on his time on last weekend's race. He hadn't realized.

Why did you “have to” let him know?

Anonymous wrote:Why is your kid trolling adults on social media?

(Not OP) Because they're curious about their old teachers. And it's a way to see another side of them, but NOT in the scary "bumping into them at the grocery store" way.

Sometimes it's just a mistake. I had to let DD's middle school assistant principal know that I thought his dog was super cute and congrats on his time on last weekend's race. He hadn't realized.

Why is your kid trolling adults on social media?

I imagine "racy" means that some young-ish teacher posted a picture of herself in a bikini with some friends at the beach.

OP, teachers are allowed to have a life that doesn't meet your prudish standards.

Anonymous wrote:Ours does, but the actual rules are around not friending/interacting with kids and not posting pictures of kids at school. In terms of personal content, it's just suggested that we either keep our settings private or remember that if public things can be seen by parents and students- ie. don't post anything publicly that could come back to haunt you.

This is the same guidance at my school.

My accounts are private. I don’t post much anyway because I’m not a fan of social media.

I do have coworkers who post things that sometimes slightly raise an eyebrow. Then I remind myself that they are humans and are allowed to have a life outside of school.

I’m curious what “racy but not over the top” means. If her posts just suggest a life outside of the classroom, then I have no problem with this.

Ours does, but the actual rules are around not friending/interacting with kids and not posting pictures of kids at school. In terms of personal content, it's just suggested that we either keep our settings private or remember that if public things can be seen by parents and students- ie. don't post anything publicly that could come back to haunt you.

My middle-schooler at a DC private school shared with me the public instagram page of a teacher at the elementary division of the school. DC was in this teacher's class when in elementary. The account is racy but not over the top, depending on your viewpoint. Do area independent schools provide guidance to teachers about public/private social media?