I just deleted a very long blog about how much I want to be able to have a social life that exists outside of HS students. It was brilliant and may have been the single piece of writing that would change the world for millions, end world hunger, and peace to the warring countries of the world.
But alas, it is now lost to the void of refreshed web pages. Grrrrr! If it were not so late I would try and recreate it, but it is late and I have meetings in the morning. So, I will provide a Cliff Notes version and hopefully it will at least get my point across even if it doesn't feed the masses or usher in an era of peace and utopia.
Summary:
I was told by a colleague that I would be wise to block students from following me on twitter because I follow SG and several of the models and that could be seen as inappropriate if a parent saw that or a student suggested they were offended by it or a comment. I want to know when I lost my ability to have a personal life. I know I chose to be a teacher and that there are certain things that come with the territory, but really? Now I have to censor myself when I an off the clock and want to just be me. I think that I have earned the right to be as bad or good as I choose when outside the classroom. I am not a teacher 24/7. I get time to me a regular Joe!
I followed the colleague's advice, partly because at the time it seemed sound (and still does) and because I like my privacy, but in retrospect it kind of pissed me off! If I want to tweet about how my feet don't touch the ground when I use a handicapped toilet (this is a mystery to me ... why are handicapped toilets so much taller than regular toilets. You would think that it would be easier for the handicapped person to get on and off the pot if it were more level. and yes i have tweeted about this problem in the past), I should be able to do so without fear that it will be the center of discussion during my next class.
When I was in HS, I wanted nothing to do with my teachers outside of their class. Anymore, with facebook and myspace, it seems that students are stalking teachers to get "dirt" that they can use later. Is my life really that fantastic? I don't think so!
Anyway, It was a random thought that hit me today and I thought I would share. Oh, if you are on twitter hit me up ... @hamiwill.
Cheers,
Price
But alas, it is now lost to the void of refreshed web pages. Grrrrr! If it were not so late I would try and recreate it, but it is late and I have meetings in the morning. So, I will provide a Cliff Notes version and hopefully it will at least get my point across even if it doesn't feed the masses or usher in an era of peace and utopia.
Summary:
I was told by a colleague that I would be wise to block students from following me on twitter because I follow SG and several of the models and that could be seen as inappropriate if a parent saw that or a student suggested they were offended by it or a comment. I want to know when I lost my ability to have a personal life. I know I chose to be a teacher and that there are certain things that come with the territory, but really? Now I have to censor myself when I an off the clock and want to just be me. I think that I have earned the right to be as bad or good as I choose when outside the classroom. I am not a teacher 24/7. I get time to me a regular Joe!
I followed the colleague's advice, partly because at the time it seemed sound (and still does) and because I like my privacy, but in retrospect it kind of pissed me off! If I want to tweet about how my feet don't touch the ground when I use a handicapped toilet (this is a mystery to me ... why are handicapped toilets so much taller than regular toilets. You would think that it would be easier for the handicapped person to get on and off the pot if it were more level. and yes i have tweeted about this problem in the past), I should be able to do so without fear that it will be the center of discussion during my next class.
When I was in HS, I wanted nothing to do with my teachers outside of their class. Anymore, with facebook and myspace, it seems that students are stalking teachers to get "dirt" that they can use later. Is my life really that fantastic? I don't think so!
Anyway, It was a random thought that hit me today and I thought I would share. Oh, if you are on twitter hit me up ... @hamiwill.
Cheers,
Price