Teachers have been warned against contacting students online. Picture: ThinkStock Source: The Daily Telegraph
- Victorian Government has released new guidelines
- They are designed to protect teachers' reputations
- Online smear campaigns put teachers' careers at risk
TEACHERS have been warned against contacting students online amid fears too many are befriending their charges on Facebook.
In a major crackdown on social media use in schools, the�Victorian Government has released new guidelines designed to protect teachers' reputations.
Educators say online smear campaigns by students have put teachers' careers at risk, with some being forced to move schools.
The Government says the guidelines will also help protect students from inappropriate conduct by teachers.
"That boundary between being a teacher and a friend is one which teachers have to sometimes tread very carefully," Minister for the Teaching Profession Peter Hall said.
"It's important to provide parents with the confidence that their teachers have the knowledge available for them to do their job well."
Under the online directives launched today, teachers are also cautioned against:
CONTACTING students by mobile phone or email "without a valid educational context".
POSTING any "offensive or slanderous" material about students, parents or colleagues.
SHARING content from personal social media sites, such as their Facebook accounts, with students.
UPLOADING images of themselves that have "potential to negatively affect their reputation".
"VENTING" about their work, or posting personal or political opinions.
Victorian Independent Education Union secretary Deb James welcomed the campaign, saying social networking had become a minefield for teachers.
She said examples included students "outing" teachers, irrespective of their sexuality.
"It's been very challenging. There has certainly been some situations . . . of people even needing to move to a new school community. It can be as serious as that, in terms of the stuff that can be sent around by students."
Australian Education Union state president Mary Bluett also praised the guidelines.
Cyber safety expert Susan McLean said many teachers were absolutely naive about the risks, saying she came across teachers with students as Facebook friends "three or four times a week".
"I've seen the particularly nasty stuff like 'Mr Jones is the local pedo(phile)'."
Ms McLean said another case involved a student who successfully set up an account in the name of his deputy principal.
"It's just another avenue to wreak havoc with someone else's life without thinking."
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