Should Teachers contact students outside of lessons?

[lostinidlewonder]

A debate that is flowing through Australia at the moment is whether or not teachers should allow their students to contact them outside of the school environment. With technologies such as Facebook, SMS, emails etc keeping in contact with people has been easier than ever before. However some people are fearing that this is crossing the professional/personal boundaries.

Personally, I have no problems having my students on my facebook or contacting them outside of lessons. I do not ever post anything online that I wouldn't mind everyone else knowing about but I am sure that this would not be the case for all people. I also would never consider discussing anything inappropriate with my younger students, I even have to tell them off sometimes for swearing in MSN chats with me!

The funny thing about the internet is that often, peoples personalities while online do not accurately reflect their real life personality. I have met people online who are nothing like what they are like when they chat online. I could see this sort of situation cause problems and confusion with teacher/students.

Is crossing personal/professional boundaries with students dangerous?  Fears that online contact with students could be stepping stones for indecent sexual relationships are well founded for I believe. But as teachers we know in our hearts if we would ever cross this line. I think if there is even a 0.0001% chance of you crossing that line you have to seriously consider if being a teacher is right for you. If you know there is no chance of this ever happening then any contact outside of school can be easily judged on your side, however you must take care that your student is not led in any unacceptable way and know which rare few students you absolutely cannot maintain contact outside of school with.

I even extend this to having relationships with students who are of legal age. I have had the opportunity from students in the past but I will never accept it, kindly be flattered but highlight that I am here to teach nothing else. I think it is not appropriate to strike up a sexual relationship with your students only because it is taking advantage of the teaching platform. As a teacher you meet many more people and get to know them very well, more so than most other professions, we cannot abuse this professional setup.

[go12_3]

I don't think that Facebook, etc. does make it easier to contact anyone, not in my real life.
I mean my real life friends don't do facebook nor msn.  So why would I even bother to contact
any of my students, who are mostly under 12 years old, through facebook or msn, when I can usually contact the parent anyhow.  Sure, if a student moves away, then it might be appropiate to send a card at Christmas time, but I don't get close to my students because they take lessons for a year or so and move on. 

best wishes,

go12_3

[lostinidlewonder]

I don't think that Facebook, etc. does make it easier to contact anyone, not in my real life.
I mean my real life friends don't do facebook nor msn.  So why would I even bother to contact
any of my students, who are mostly under 12 years old, through facebook or msn, when I can usually contact the parent anyhow.  Sure, if a student moves away, then it might be appropiate to send a card at Christmas time, but I don't get close to my students because they take lessons for a year or so and move on.  

best wishes,

go12_3

I find people don't only add their friends that they see in real life to their facebook. Many people simply add as many people as they can and use the "what are you doing now" function on facebook to let everyone know what they are up to Then people comment under that etc. I certainly have a lot of different people on my "friends" list, even if I have never met them in real life before! Talking to people online is actually real life, you may not meet the person in body but that doesn't mean it's not real. So many people I have met from pianostreet that I have never met in real life but we have talked about real life issues and solved them just as well as if we where sitting next to each other in person.

People may ask what is the point in contacting students outside of lessons. One reason for me is that some students actually need to ask questions about lessons and piano etc. Others are actually interested to see what kind of music their teacher is into and thus like to browse my profile and listen to videos I have posted. The technology has allowed us to maintain contact even through we are not in a school environment. Other students actually like to get to know their teacher and the teacher the student. I am very facinated looking at students hobbies and own interests outside of piano. It allows me as a teacher to connect to the student more strongly and thus be able to teach things more easily in terms of their interests.

[go12_3]

dear lost:  
I've taught for several years and it's a learned thing for me not to get attached to people unless
they are genuine and sincere, in real and online contacts in my life.  I have moved around several times throughout my life and therefore it's more of a challenge for me to trust people.  However, once I make a friend, then they are my friend for life.   It's a process to connect with someone and it takes effort and time.  

[penguinlover]

I am a people person.  I always try to get close to my students, and I have many that I send Christmas cards to as they have moved.  I consider them, and their parents, friends.  Life is much richer when you have friends.  So, in answer to your question, yes.  I would encourage outside contact.  I take my kids to concerts sometimes, go shopping with them at times, have the family over for dinner etc.  I try to enjoy them as much as I can, they'll grow up and leave home before you know it.  One of my former students is in the military, and contacts me on facebook.  He is actually planning a recital for us to do when he comes home on leave!  I love it!

[mrsmusic13]

My high school aged students in particular are the ones who most often talk to me via facebook and text. They ask me questions related to their lessons and if a change in a scheduled lesson time is needed, they take the responsibility of dealing with it instead of their parents. They don't bother me a bit and I remain a "professional."

I've been known to make a comment in response to something a student has said on facebook.  I don't mind them seeing who my "friends" are. They don't really notice that anyways.I'm their teacher and they respect me, but I'm a person too and they know that too.

If I want say something to a student related to their lesson or  music related I often do it via private message on facebook( it's the easiest way to reach some of them quickly ) I don't do anything embarrassing on facebook, nor do my students. Most of their parents are on facebook now as well. Many teachers have their studios on facebook, separate from their personal facebook accounts.

Technology and these modes of communication are such part of students'
 lives and they are here to stay. Admittedly, my texting isn't great, but I can do it.  

Past students visit me on college breaks and those out of college still drop by when they are in the area. Former students who are majoring in subjects other than music, continue to play and when they return home during holiday and break come for lessons. Several former students even send me tickets when they are performing.

I cant help it. I like my students and have always kept in touch.



Take Care Lou

[nanabush]

I usually get students' email when they have an exam coming up (these exams tend to be right after Christmas Break, or during summer vacation), and I'm unable to see them in person.  Email is great because I can send a scan of the exam requirements, give them some last minute practice advice, and keep in contact to see how the exam went, rather than wait a month to speak with them.

I have 5 or 6 high school students, and although it is very easy to talk with them for a whole lesson (I'm 20 now), I think if I contacted them too much outside the lesson, productivity would go way down.

So summing that up, I only contact if it's exam related, or if THEY add me on facebook, which a few of them did do, and saying hi and whatever.  I'm not going to call them at their house and see if they want to hang out; would a young high school teacher do that to their students?  I'd feel out of place a bit.

[pianochick93]

My teacher has quite a lot of out-of-lesson contact with me. She's in her mid 20s, and I'm in my late teens. She's like a mentor, and we get along very well.
I have her facebook, often text her (mostly about piano-related things), and generally don't hesitate to ask her about things without waiting for a lesson. It'd be pointless if she contacted my parent...I organise when the lessons are and stuff like that.

[avguste]

Personally I think a teacher has no business contacting a student outside of lessons, unless it is about the lesson, piano issues and such.
Same goes for the student contacting the teacher.

[anna_crusis]

Is crossing personal/professional boundaries with students dangerous?  Fears that online contact with students could be stepping stones for indecent sexual relationships are well founded for I believe. But as teachers we know in our hearts if we would ever cross this line. I think if there is even a 0.0001% chance of you crossing that line you have to seriously consider if being a teacher is right for you. If you know there is no chance of this ever happening then any contact outside of school can be easily judged on your side, however you must take care that your student is not led in any unacceptable way and know which rare few students you absolutely cannot maintain contact outside of school with.

I believe you are sincere, but how are you going to 100% convince parents and other adults of this?

What are potential employers going to think of you when they hear from a third party that you contact your students privately through the internet? It doesn't sound good does it? You know in your self that your intentions are honourable, but unless you have the kind of reputation that preceeds you, then people are bound to be alarmed. Anyone going down this route is likely to have a very short career.

[lostinidlewonder]

I believe you are sincere, but how are you going to 100% convince parents and other adults of this?

Naturally all of the students I teach who still live with their parents I ask permission from the parents if we are actually allowed to contact through the internet. At the moment none of them have had a problem with this and I would feel a little foolish telling my adult students not to contact me outside of the lesson. Of the handful of students that contact me online it is rarely something that happens once a week if that at all.

I think it is impossible to stop students contacting teachers outside of the school (and vice versa) nowadays with the technology we have. Before the internet people had to send hand written letters, then go off and post it (knowing the persons home address), now you can easily post a letter to anyone you want from the comfort of your home and armed with an email address only (something that people give up a lot easier than a home address). When a student asks me for my email address I will happily give it to them, I personally don't feel the need to protect myself although I am sure many other people would not have the same opinion. Because for me music is one of my favorite subjects anyone, student or stranger who contacts me about it I will happily oblige.

With online chats I have had with younger students I have to simply ignore them if they want to just say "HI, what you doing?" etc etc. I don't feel the need to talk about useless stuff with youngsters, only if there is a useful point to respond I will do so. However if some of my friends say hi what you doing, I will engage Young students only contact me to make changes to lesson times, ask questions about music. On the rare occasion students have contacted me to tell me about something amazing non-musical that has happened to them or their family and I will also happily engage in that conversation but once thats finished I will tell them I have to go.

Personally I find there is zero reason to talk to a young student in social chat online. First of all I have nothing really to connect to a young student about my hobbies and interests because I do them at an adults level, they want to talk about child stuff, which I will happily oblige in person when we have a lesson, I always ask them about hobbies/sports etc that personally interest them it breaks the "ice of formality" of a lesson and relaxes most student to focus imo.

What are potential employers going to think of you when they hear from a third party that you contact your students privately through the internet? It doesn't sound good does it? You know in your self that your intentions are honourable, but unless you have the kind of reputation that preceeds you, then people are bound to be alarmed. Anyone going down this route is likely to have a very short career.

I work for one school which does not allow you to contact students outside of the school by any means and naturally I respect that. When I work with my private tuition however I feel that I should be free to do as I please, all my students I teach privately know all my private contact details. I have even celebrated birthdays, countless lunches, dinners, parties etc with my private students of all ages, it has certainly enriched my career.

The Western institutions of teaching generally find contacting students outside of school a real Pandoras box. How much has the media fed us stories of teachers having sexual relationships with under aged students. It highlights very small minute minority of teachers out there, such a small tiny amount. But because of these minorities the majority have to suffer. It's really not fair.

[go12_3]

I've taught enough students that it is wise to keep the teacher's role intact instead of
extending myself outside the studio.  I truly do not have the time nor the energy to
contact my students and  I contact the parent via email or phone call only
about piano lessons. 

[anna_crusis]

Well if the parents give their consent and the contact is limited, then I guess there is no problem.

[jinfiesto]

I think this totally depends on the relationship you have with your teacher. Having traveled extensively for competitions and conferences with my teacher, as well as taking fairly long lessons, we developed a fairly close relationship. Also, I used to be the last lesson of the day, so we'd run over talking about nothing all the time. Although I no longer take lessons, I used to, and still do often call to talk about nothing in particular, or will call to go grab dinner every once in a while. I don't see what's wrong with this. There's nothing wrong with being a friend and a mentor in the position of teacher.

My teacher has had similar relationships with her other students over the years. She's known to take off and travel around the country to watch performances of some of her favorite students. Seems normal enough to me.

[honeywill]

For me, the informality of facebook, msn etc does not sit easily with my relationship with my students as their teacher. I think there is too much potential for blurring of boundaries to occur, especially with teenagers, and for that reason, I keep my contacts with students strictly professional. I exchange emails with the parents of my students occasionally. If a student were to contact me by email, I would respond in a professional manner, but copy the email to their parents, to make it quite clear that nothing untoward was going on.

 

[mrsmusic13]

Sometimes I  contact students outside of their lesson time, and my older, upper level students sometimes contact me privately via Facebook, text. cell phone regarding lessons, scheduling changes, or music related question. Nobody else can read it and it goes right to my email.

In fact, I just sent a private message via facebook to one of my students regarding a rehearsal time and sent a link to a piece I want another student to listen to this week before her lesson.  These messages will also be private.

My high school and college students take the responsibility for their lessons, practice etc. and all deal with me directly. Their parents like this and know that nothing "untoward" is going on.

This morning after a lesson with a high school student's younger sibling, the parent asked me me to email or text her older son regarding a rehearsal time. It's not that the parent(s) have no interest in what's going on, they all most certainly do. The parents and I speak or mail about exams, tests, festivals, competitions.

I don't want to be my students' friend, and they know that.  It's a very convenient and fast way to communicate when necessary.

It's not that I'm a young, inexperienced teacher either. I've been teaching piano, voice and pedagogy for over 30 years AND I'm the nana of one.

It's interesting to read the differing opinions.

Take Care, LL

[pianoplayjl]

Yes, I think it is appropriate in an event of emergency. My teacher usually notifies me via email and occasionally SMS.

[asianpianoer]

I think this totally depends on the relationship you have with your teacher. Having traveled extensively for competitions and conferences with my teacher, as well as taking fairly long lessons, we developed a fairly close relationship. Also, I used to be the last lesson of the day, so we'd run over talking about nothing all the time. Although I no longer take lessons, I used to, and still do often call to talk about nothing in particular, or will call to go grab dinner every once in a while. I don't see what's wrong with this. There's nothing wrong with being a friend and a mentor in the position of teacher.

My teacher has had similar relationships with her other students over the years. She's known to take off and travel around the country to watch performances of some of her favorite students. Seems normal enough to me.

YES... depends on ur relationship.. and your age i guess
developing a friendship with your teacher makes lessons more enjoyable and they will feel freer to teach you more...
it also helps the teacher to understand why you are who you are ... - know your background and viceversa

music making is very personal - when being taught you expose your feelings... so ppl trying to say ''keep it strictly professional''' .. ...
....

[lukebar]

Any e-mails, Facebook posts or other electronic correspondence I have with students gets CC'd to the parents. There's no reason that a teacher and student should be prohibited from ALL communication outside of the lesson, and there is also no reason that their parents shouldn't be kept in the loop as to what these communications are about.

Personally, I want my students to really feel like I am on their side. In other words, I'm rooting for them to succeed. Without getting overly involved, a little communication outside of lessons can let them know that I don't just see them as customer, but truly have an interest in them as a human being.

But, especially as a male teacher in my case, not only do you have to avoid any sort of impropriety, you have to avoid any possible suspicion or possible accusation of impropriety. Make sure the parents are in on any and all communication between yourself and the student.

[asianpianoer]

yeah i feel sorry for male teachers cos one accusation and ur job is gone