"Teachers Online"... Really?

The June 2009 edition of Professionally Speaking, the magazine of the Ontario College of Teachers, has a promising headline: "Technology in the Classroom / Social Networks -- Teachers online." When I saw the cover I thought, "Wow! Finally an article on the importance of Web 2.0 to the classroom!" How prematurely silly of me.

The feature article is actually titled "Can We Be Friends? Watching your Electronic Step." Ah, yes... yet another warning to teachers about engaging in social media with students. I'd merely say "ho hum" and move on with my life, if I didn't get the nagging feeling that such articles are actually damaging to the futures of our students. Where are the warnings about what the futures of our students will be like if we do not engage in social media with them?

I read here, in bold lettering, that "When it comes to online social media and electronic communications, teachers often counsel students on how to operate safely and appropriately." Really? I don't know where author Stuart Foxman teaches (if he's a teacher) but I'd say such counselling is a rarity at best in my neck of the woods.

I read that "Web 2.0 will only grow and may well have a positive role to play in education." Fortunately, I love insightful understatements.

I read that "No doubt, teachers and school boards will continue to explore and wrestle with Internet usage and appropriate forms of teacher-student communications." This is likely true, if unfortunate and misdirected.

While it is (glaringly to anyone not living under a rock) true that all teachers need to be aware of the professional implications of everything that we do (whether online or offline, whether on the school day clock or not), we also have a responsibility to our students and their futures. Why not show them how we, as professionals, manage our Web 2.0 interactions? Why not lead by (shared) example? Why not offer a contemporary, "do as I do", example-based education, instead of an outmoded "do as I say, but you'll never see how I do" one?