Teachers Advised to Stay Away from Social Networks

Scottish school teachers who access the Internet from home are advised to avoid interacting with pupils online through instant messaging applications or social networks, BBC reports today. Because of the growing popularity of social networks and other online communities, teachers are asked not to disclose too much private information online but also to treat individuals or groups met over the Internet with extra caution.

"Teachers should not involve themselves with social networking sites, or be in a situation where an online relationship could form with a pupil. In school there are guidelines to say don't be in a classroom alone with a pupil, all doors should be open, and from that point of view we are covered. Online we are not and teachers should be wary of involvement with pupils, particularly through social networking sites," Gary McDonald, technology teacher at Balerno Community High School in Edinburgh, told BBC.

It wouldn't be something new if a user could contact a teacher online and communicate with him through social networks or instant messaging applications. However, teachers should maintain the distance when interacting with pupils online because the risk of disclosing private details is pretty high. Moreover, some people are worried that teachers may establish relationships online without knowing that the person they met on the Internet was actually their student.

Moreover, accessing social networks - mostly populated by teenagers and young users - may expose teachers to all kinds of dangers. For instance, pupils may attempt to take advantage of the online field and trick teachers into disclosing sensitive details without them even knowing the real identity of their online partner.

"There has to be a balance between building a rapport with pupils, but also maintaining a distance and a level of formality," Annie Rankin, an English teacher, commented for BBC.