Today, with the increasing use of social media, teachers and students have greater access to one’s personal history than ever before.
While social media users in education argue that teacher-student connection on social networks is harmless, Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist (精神科医生) in Beverly Hills, Calif. , believes any one-on-one private relationship out of the classroom begs for improper behavior to begin. Iris Fanning, a family-counseling provider (家庭关系咨询师) for school districts in Albuquerque, N. M. , says major concerns arise when students begin to see teachers as friends. “When I entered education, there was a clear wall of boundaries (边界) between students and teachers, ” Fanning says. “You still have to have those boundaries, and I think we’ve got away from that. ”
In response to some of the possible threats of social media, some school districts are now limiting after-school dialogue between students and teachers.
“I think teachers should be allowed to add us on social media because that’s how we communicate, ” says Brown, a high school senior in Ohio, who hasn’t befriended any of her teachers on social networks. “But I also think that some teachers would cross the line. I do agree that it needs watching over but they shouldn’t be cut off completely. ”
Most recently, in Missouri, the state passed Senate Bill 54, which bans students and teachers from having any connections on social media. The bill was created as a strong measure to protect children from entering into improper relationships with teachers. Dave Childers, head teacher at ACEL Fresno Charter High School in California, says it’s disheartening to see laws that limit the ability for teachers to connect with students through social media. “We could go as far as saying teachers shouldn’t be allowed to coach sports or advise a club, because when you do that you have extra connections and stronger relationships, ” he notes.
1. One-on-one private teacher-student connection may give rise to concerns because it______.
A. highlights teachers’ role as friends
B. encourages the threats of social media
C. clouds the necessary teacher-student boundaries
D. places fewer responsibilities on teachers than before
2. Sami Brown would probably agree to______in teacher-student connection.
A. ban social media
B. move across the dividing line
C. keep an eye on social media users
D. heavily punish improper behaviors
3. The underlined word “disheartening” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to______.
A. shameful B. understandable
C. encouraging D. frustrating
