Should teachers and students be friends on Facebook?
Aug 17, 2011
ALFRED Mutambuze, 26, is a secondary school economics teacher. He is not much older than the students in his classes, many of whom find him more approachable than many of the older teachers.
By Doreen Murungi
ALFRED Mutambuze, 26, is a secondary school economics teacher. He is not much older than the students in his classes, many of whom find him more approachable than many of the older teachers.
As expected, a number of his students send him a Facebook friend request, which he never declines. Like Mutambuze, more and more teachers are finding themselves in this dilemma, receiving friend requests from their students, which leave them confused as to whether it is right or wrong to decline or accept, for fear of being reduced to the level of their students’ friends and colleagues thus losing their dignity as teachers or being labeled unfriendly and unapproachable.
Some teachers confess most of their students are their Facebook friends. Well, since Facebook is a social network site where people fraternise and often share personal details, is it sensible for a teacher to have online interactions with his students?
Paul Mark Ojul, a teacher at St. Henry’s College Kitovu, is against the idea. “It does not help students in any way; I do not see any good interaction going on through such an avenue,†Ojul says.
“What can a teacher and student discuss here given their age difference?†Irene Namutebi, the head teacher of London College of St. Lawrence wonders. She agreed with Ojul that the kind of information shared on Facebook is not academic and hence would not encourage the teacher-student Facebook interaction.
Jessica Namaleya, a student, differs with Namutebi on this, saying Facebook is a tool for inquiry. “During holidays when I chat with my teachers, it is strictly about school work, it is more like coaching and the teachers never discuss anything outside what I ask,†Namaleya says.
However, other students have differing views and confirm Namutebi’s claim that Facebook is not academic:
“Some of my male teachers are my Facebook friends. Facebook is not a class; it is a fun site; what we discuss is usually casual,†Mary Lujja, a Senior Six student, says.
Banton Mwesigwa, a Senior Five student highlights the casual talk: “I can ask if we will have beginning of term exams; the rest of the talk is about which girl in class I like. I also use Facebook to invite teachers for our holiday plot,†Mwesigwa reveals.
Timothy Mugerwa, a teacher at Kololo S.S.S points out that much as some individuals abuse the online teacher-student relationship, Facebook can be a good way of bridging the gap between teachers and students. It can be a solution for students who are not confident enough when it comes to face-to-face interactions and a good way of utilizing the latest technologies. “it has been a good way of exchanging vital information with students and it also helps students improve their ICT skills,†Mugerwa says.
John Chrysostom Muyingo, the minister of state for education agrees with Mugerwa, pointing out that modern technology is here and we should not shy away from it: “If the purpose is education, Facebook can be beneficial, it is one way of achieving mass education, wherever there is interaction, learning takes place ,†Muyingo states.
Peter Wandera Ogooro, a teacher, says not all students are equipped with computer skills so not all students would benefit from online learning. He also says teacher-student Facebook interaction is not a good idea since not many schools, especially rural ones, have that privilege. “Anything not guided by policy may not be a good thing.â€
Looking at Facebook as a platform for constructive engagement is good; in fact, some people will tell you of how Facebook has been a platform for noble causes and how they have seen successful outcomes from campaigns run on Facebook. Some educationists have argued that if Facebook is seen as a threat, then should all other forms of technology.
Parents choose not to look at it that way. They argue that when it comes to students and teachers, there should be a boundary: “They are your students, not friends, teachers need to draw the line,†says Patricia Mulumba, a parent. She adds that if teachers are to maintain a respectable position among their students, they should forget about Facebook interaction.
Josephine Kwezi, a parent also disagrees with the idea of having teachers and students as Facebook friends: “My daughter has both male and female teachers but only the male teachers were her Facebook friends.
We should not allow this; it makes it easier for unlawful relationships to thrive between teachers and students,†Kwezi reasons.
Bakka Male, the head teacher King’s College Buddo says it is not correct to argue that Facebook makes it easier for unlawful relationships. “If those are the intentions of the parties involved, it will develop even in face-to-face interactions.â€
Male is in favour of teacher-student Facebook interaction but emphasizes that it should be formal interaction where boundaries are defined. “If the conversation is informal and the frequency is high, it’s upon the student to know where to stop,†Male says.
Muyingo adds:
“We need other ways like the modern technologies to facilitate learning and thus should not hide good things from the young because of fear. We should stress the positive, not the negative,†he advises.
Education ministry stand
Aggrey Kibenge, the ministry spokesperson says there is no problem if what is being shared can help enhance societal values and help students grow into responsible citizens. By its very nature, Facebook is more for entertainment and socialising. Whether a teacher could fit in with a student is a question of debate. When you relate on a site like Facebook, you are almost relating as equals; it can eliminate the seriousness in terms of how you are perceived.
It is a delicate situation; how do you relate and maintain your influential position. It can create familiarity that erodes the relationship that should exist between a teacher and student.
Teachers should be role models and this relationship and trust should never be abused.
ALFRED Mutambuze, 26, is a secondary school economics teacher. He is not much older than the students in his classes, many of whom find him more approachable than many of the older teachers.
As expected, a number of his students send him a Facebook friend request, which he never declines. Like Mutambuze, more and more teachers are finding themselves in this dilemma, receiving friend requests from their students, which leave them confused as to whether it is right or wrong to decline or accept, for fear of being reduced to the level of their students’ friends and colleagues thus losing their dignity as teachers or being labeled unfriendly and unapproachable.
Some teachers confess most of their students are their Facebook friends. Well, since Facebook is a social network site where people fraternise and often share personal details, is it sensible for a teacher to have online interactions with his students?
Paul Mark Ojul, a teacher at St. Henry’s College Kitovu, is against the idea. “It does not help students in any way; I do not see any good interaction going on through such an avenue,†Ojul says.
“What can a teacher and student discuss here given their age difference?†Irene Namutebi, the head teacher of London College of St. Lawrence wonders. She agreed with Ojul that the kind of information shared on Facebook is not academic and hence would not encourage the teacher-student Facebook interaction.
Jessica Namaleya, a student, differs with Namutebi on this, saying Facebook is a tool for inquiry. “During holidays when I chat with my teachers, it is strictly about school work, it is more like coaching and the teachers never discuss anything outside what I ask,†Namaleya says.
However, other students have differing views and confirm Namutebi’s claim that Facebook is not academic:
“Some of my male teachers are my Facebook friends. Facebook is not a class; it is a fun site; what we discuss is usually casual,†Mary Lujja, a Senior Six student, says.
Banton Mwesigwa, a Senior Five student highlights the casual talk: “I can ask if we will have beginning of term exams; the rest of the talk is about which girl in class I like. I also use Facebook to invite teachers for our holiday plot,†Mwesigwa reveals.
Timothy Mugerwa, a teacher at Kololo S.S.S points out that much as some individuals abuse the online teacher-student relationship, Facebook can be a good way of bridging the gap between teachers and students. It can be a solution for students who are not confident enough when it comes to face-to-face interactions and a good way of utilizing the latest technologies. “it has been a good way of exchanging vital information with students and it also helps students improve their ICT skills,†Mugerwa says.
John Chrysostom Muyingo, the minister of state for education agrees with Mugerwa, pointing out that modern technology is here and we should not shy away from it: “If the purpose is education, Facebook can be beneficial, it is one way of achieving mass education, wherever there is interaction, learning takes place ,†Muyingo states.
Peter Wandera Ogooro, a teacher, says not all students are equipped with computer skills so not all students would benefit from online learning. He also says teacher-student Facebook interaction is not a good idea since not many schools, especially rural ones, have that privilege. “Anything not guided by policy may not be a good thing.â€
Looking at Facebook as a platform for constructive engagement is good; in fact, some people will tell you of how Facebook has been a platform for noble causes and how they have seen successful outcomes from campaigns run on Facebook. Some educationists have argued that if Facebook is seen as a threat, then should all other forms of technology.
Parents choose not to look at it that way. They argue that when it comes to students and teachers, there should be a boundary: “They are your students, not friends, teachers need to draw the line,†says Patricia Mulumba, a parent. She adds that if teachers are to maintain a respectable position among their students, they should forget about Facebook interaction.
Josephine Kwezi, a parent also disagrees with the idea of having teachers and students as Facebook friends: “My daughter has both male and female teachers but only the male teachers were her Facebook friends.
We should not allow this; it makes it easier for unlawful relationships to thrive between teachers and students,†Kwezi reasons.
Bakka Male, the head teacher King’s College Buddo says it is not correct to argue that Facebook makes it easier for unlawful relationships. “If those are the intentions of the parties involved, it will develop even in face-to-face interactions.â€
Male is in favour of teacher-student Facebook interaction but emphasizes that it should be formal interaction where boundaries are defined. “If the conversation is informal and the frequency is high, it’s upon the student to know where to stop,†Male says.
Muyingo adds:
“We need other ways like the modern technologies to facilitate learning and thus should not hide good things from the young because of fear. We should stress the positive, not the negative,†he advises.
Education ministry stand
Aggrey Kibenge, the ministry spokesperson says there is no problem if what is being shared can help enhance societal values and help students grow into responsible citizens. By its very nature, Facebook is more for entertainment and socialising. Whether a teacher could fit in with a student is a question of debate. When you relate on a site like Facebook, you are almost relating as equals; it can eliminate the seriousness in terms of how you are perceived.
It is a delicate situation; how do you relate and maintain your influential position. It can create familiarity that erodes the relationship that should exist between a teacher and student.
Teachers should be role models and this relationship and trust should never be abused.