Law & ethics influence on professional context

As educators we seem to pride ourselves on the topic of ethics and are continually tip-toeing to avoid the possibility of overstepping into a situation we cannot come back from. The easiest mistake many people can make in the workforce, especially in teaching, revolves around the accessibility that is promoted through social media sites such as, Facebook.

A harmless like of a post or a few photos tagged with your name and face seems like no big deal, just another part of collecting life experiences and communicating with friends. However, it takes just one mutual friend or a direct friend to be linked with the school and without the right safeguards in place harmless comments spiral into local gossip. 

Although I have made my best efforts to manage my own Facebook page I unfortunately cannot control the actions of my friends. From the time in which I decided I was going to sign up to Facebook I knew that this was a portal that could be used for historical information in the process of acquiring any future position at a school. I always make sure that if anyone wishes to post photos on my own wall or tag me in them that there is a censor in which I have to approve this photos. Unfortunately I have been struck with the situation where a close friend has thought they were being helpful by documenting a night out on their own Facebook page. I was not tagged in these photos originally but this particular person was also a mutual friend of a handful of school parents.

None of the photos were explicit in any way but I myself do not encourage posting photos of friends, especially without permission, when alcoholic beverages are within sight of the photos. This then proceeded with a comment from a school parent noted on the bottom of the page. I did not know how to react or how to handle the situation professionally. Yes, this person was a friend that had posted it but I didn't feel close enough to them to have this discussion. In the end I was very direct and had to ask for the photos to be removed and explained the situation that I was put in. As this friend needed to understand clearly as to why I was offended and why I did not want a reoccurrence of this situation to happen again.

From this situation I have learnt to be very careful around what photos I allow people to take of me. I am now quick to voice my opinion if I feel the need that my professional identity is at risk. As part of the Code of Ethics for Educators (2017) we are to display responsible ethical practice and raise professional standards. 

A friend of mine has also experienced their own issues around social media and many times I have used her experiences to help filter friend requests. She had unknowingly put herself into a situation as a young teacher where she had received friend requests from current parents and had accepted them.  Seemingly harmless at the time to her but one of the requests was a parent who she knew through a series of mutual friends. The conversations and interactions had always been professional. However, this was a recently single dad that did not understand the professional boundaries.

He became more frequent in her classroom and linger for longer each day. This was apparent for many of us that he was more socially available. He was always polite and respectful. However, things became difficult when he began to think it was okay to private message her via Facebook. She had enough sense not to reply but still did not take the initiative to delete him from her friends list. As he continued to try private conversations and each giving a bit more each time, we were finally able to bring her to her senses that this was not okay and he was to make this a personal relationship rather than a professional one.

She eventually was able to delete him and avoid him. Professional advice was seeked and she was able to delete all other parents. Although, this did spark gossip around the school as to why suddenly these 'friendships' had been deleted. 

From this I have learnt to be very clinical in who I accept or add as a friend. I do not mix personal with professional relationships. If there's a chance of teaching their child I do not want to be friends with them on social media.

Both of these situation reiterated for me how easily we can leave a digital footprint and the implications that this can bring with them.