Would you give your students your phone number?

Many teachers in my school give graduating students their cell phone numbers.

I think this is so bizarre. There HAS to be a separation between school and home life and the last thing I would want is for some 14yr old to call me because they're bored on a Friday night.

What do you lades think of this?

On a side note, I will be giving my students an email address that I set up just for school things.

ETA: I teach in a middle school

Message edited 6/24/2011 6:30:33 PM.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

I give my email. No phone, no FB. Crosses a line to me and can be viewed as inappropriate by parents and others--though it is perfectly innocent.

As a counselor it is hard bc over three years (I am in MS also) I have gotten very close w/some students and want to keep in touch. That said, IMO email is the best route to go.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

I would NEVER, EVER give a student my phone number or be friends with them on fb. In the past, I have given out an email address that I set up specifically for school.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

I could see email, but definitely NOT a phone number.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

No, I would not. They have my email if they need to get in contact with me.

I do know a lot of coaches give out their numbers to their athletes and text back and forth.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

No way! Especially not to middle school kids!
My students have my email and know how to contact me, and once they graduate from the school I'll add them on fb with a limited profile
(They're HS though so they're a little more mature)

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

no way

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

I can tell you with ONE MILLION PERCENT CERTAINTY that it is EXTREMELY frowned upon by the NYC DOE to share personal information with students including email, phone numbers, FB accounts etc with students. People have been terminated for such activity and much worse.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

i ONLY give my school email address. thats crazy!!!! seems like they are inviting problems in doing that...

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

No. But somehow, a few of my students this year found my home address and phone number. One girl actually had her sister drive her to my town so she could take pictures to show me.
I was pretty surprised when it happened...but they forgot about it pretty quickly, and none have come to visit.....yet!

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

NO NO NO NO NO!

completely unprofessional in my opinion. I give them my district work e-mail only. even if I don't, most kids figure it out as staff e-mails follow a predictable pattern with initial and last name.

i really don't think kids need your phone number. even though for most it is probably completely innocent, there is no way it can be "documented" or tracked. a kid could say you said this or that and you have no recourse because how do you prove it? also, even though they're graduating, they still know and hang out with many other kids in the school... it's just too risky.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

I know in many charter schools the teachers are expected to not only give out their numbers, but to also be available to answer questions abotu HW, etc.

I did put my cell number on my parent letter this year and only one parent used it (and she was completely rude to me) and I will never do that again. I will give out email only.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

Graduating MS??? No way never. I wouldnt for HS either, but I can see situations where that could happen...AFTER graduation.

I am FB friends with 3 former students. 1 who I had 2 yrs and his brother passed away and he emailed me about it. ~5 yrs later (well after college graduation) he sent a friend request.

The other two were part of a threesome that I also had for 2 years and went through 9-11 with. The other was murdered and it has been nice being in touch.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

NOPE!!!

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

My students have my email- they know I have a blackberry so if they had an important question they could email me and I would try to get back to them ASAP.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

Absolutely not! The phone is a tricky thing - there is no record of the conversation, and if something happens it becomes a "he said/she said" type of situation. At least with e-mail you have a written trail of exactly what was stated.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

No way! I only give my work email and that is it...and its usually only to the class Moms

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

I've given students my email, and if my (high school) graduates fb friend me, they have very limited access to what they can see. But none of them have my phone number. They'd haunt me.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

As a coach it was a necessity; many weekend/after school games practices had to be verified and phone was the quickest way. No one ever abused it and now that I don't coach anymore, students don't get my number.

I post my school email as my top contact priority for both parents and students in my school year contract.

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

never ever ever ever...i would probably be fired if i did

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

Students??? No way in hell!! I keep my FB very well hidden so they don't find me on there too...they already do google searches for me and any pictures I have on the internet

Re: Would you give your students your phone number?

I would never give my students or parents my home phone number.