to think that it's inappropriate for teaching staff to be updating their facebook status while at school?

[ATimeAndAPlace]

I have a friend who teaches at my child's school who is also on my friends list on facebook.

Recently I have noticed several status updates from her which have clearly been made during the school day, while she should be teaching children. And they're not positive updates, things like "just so fed up, wish it was the end of the day already," and "have had enough now, roll on the weekend, can't wait to get home."

While I'm fully aware that this woman has the right to update her facebook if she's having a bad day at work, she has several parents on her friend list, and I don't think it's appropriate that she is essentially slagging off her job in front of the parents of the children she is teaching.

I have casually said to her that maybe she should be careful what she writes and when, (these posts aren't made during break or lunch times judging by the times of some of them,) and she has just laughed it off.

But I am A not happy that a teacher is spending their time on facebook when they should be teaching my child, or facebooking about how much they dislike their job, which is teaching my child.

Copy the posts to the head.

God teachers have to be so careful suing facebook. It''s a minefield in so many ways.

That would be using facebook...

Hmmm, in fairness can't really get at teachers for being on Facebook at school unless you, ahem, get at those who go on MN at work

On the other hand YANBU for not being happy about slagging off school/pupils/parents and YANBU if they are doing it in class.

(I would expect to get fired if I publicly slagged off work and particularly colleagues - from my desk!)

YABU. She should probably be more careful about having kids' parents as friends but what she does in her planning time or lunch hour or whatever is none of your business. I sincerely doubt she's updating in the classroom with a crowd of rampaging children in the background.

i find it a bit odd for teachers to be using it in the first place. but i'd talk to her myself.

I'm a teacher and TBH I think it's inappropriate that she has parents of the children she teaches as FB friends, let alone updates her status. I don't know how she has time- most teachers I know spend lunchtimes eating whilst marking!!

So no, YANBU.

I think it is my business if she is posting in school time (posts made at 9:30 in the morning, again at 2:00, if it's lunchtime that's fair enough, but if it's planning time that time is given to do planning and another teacher is in my child's classroom having to cover for her.

She may be doing it during a break between lessons or lunch. It only takes a minute to update your status on FB - plenty of people do it at other places of work when they should be doing other things.

I do agree though that teachers (and anyone really) should be very very careful about using FB. I wouldn't ever slag off my work on FB, and some people are not at all careful about who can access their pictures/posts.

It seems really daft to have parents of children you teach as friends and to then moan about your job.

I would be sacked if I was caught using facebook at school. Not that I could as it is blocked, I thought it would be in most schools.

it is not just teachers i doubt any employer would be impressed find their employee doing this.

Yep, blocked in mine

I disagree. You have every right to complain if you feel her lessons are not up to scratch but my experience of teachers (I am not one) is that they spend most of their planning time lunch 'breaks' and often evenings planning, so as far as I'm concerned if they want to take 10 mins out of their allocated planning time to have a cup of tea and browse the internet it's up to them.

I concede you may have a point about moaning about work when your customers (essentially) are reading it.

I work in school and have had to politely say to parents (and pupils) that it's not really appropriate when they add me as a friend.
Then I look like a misery when other TA's have both parents and kids as facebook friends.
I've seen their updates about being hungover most weekends too... I know that's their private time and they aren't at work but it's not a good message to send out to primary age kids
One of the welfare staff even wrote how glad she was that last years yr 6 were leaving in response to a TA's status... that TA was friends with at least 3 yr 6 parents so they will have seen it too.
I think there should be some sort of rule that makes it easy to say no when parents add school staff to save embarrasment and the sort of scenario you mentioned.
Our school computers won't let you on facebook but it doesn't stop people using their phones.

I sometimes update FB in school hours. I work as a TA these days. But I have time before the children come in, after they go out for lunch and I have my breaks/non contact time. Because of break duty my breaks do not always coincide with the childrens breaks, nor does my non contact time. This is my time to do what I want.

And yes, sometimes I will make a comment about work itself - "hometime soon, phew" "grr - play duty in the wet" etc. This is not slagging off the job or school, just commenting on stuff. Doesn't mean I dilike my job, just means have had a busy day and will be glad to put my feet up.

I would be very suprised that teaching staff would be able to sit on FB in contat time TBH. Surely the children would notice to start with?

I think YABU on the whole and to report her for it - unless excess and at times when you definitely know she should be teaching - is definitely out of order.

they can access facebook?!
wow

maybe she is on a free?

SEA - why odd for teaching staff to use FB? I use FB. I don't have pupils parents on my friedns though. I also set my restrictions quite high - have made my settings so I am unsearchable, set photo access to friends only, etc.

Lots of teachers and TAs I know have FB accounts.

By ATimeAndAPlace Thu 12-Nov-09 17:57:50
I think it is my business if she is posting in school time (posts made at 9:30 in the morning, again at 2:00, if it's lunchtime that's fair enough, but if it's planning time that time is given to do planning and another teacher is in my child's classroom having to cover for her.

Considering most teaching staff work long hours at home in their own time, I think we can allow them the 30 seconds in takes to post a FB status in planning and prep time.

Yanbu. I wouldn't like it. But then I completely question the need for having a facebook account in any circumstances .

FB also blocked on our schoolnetwork, but many people have FB on their phones these days.

I would worry about her intellect more than anything!

We had a grad who became 'friends' with many collegues and then proceeded to vent spleen about annoying things that happened at work. Including calling the Managing Partner an egomaniac.

Oh dear.

no oyu knwo i think its NOT ON.
not in the school day.
am suprised ANY school allows it to get past the blocker

She's probably posting on her phone in her tea breaks. I thought it would be terrible to report her.

She will almost certainly be using her phone, I can't see any school system allowing Facebook access.

I think YAB a bit U, providing she is only doing a quick update it's unlikely to be whilst she is in the middle of teaching something, that wouldn't be possible.

Regarding the negativity, many many people are unhappy at work, I can't imagine why anyone would think teachers are immune to this! It's not nice to think your kids teacher is unhappy/bored/gagging for the weekend but it's probably the reality for a fair few people.