Last fall, STA implemented a new policy regarding teachers accepting students as friends on social networking sites.  The school administration was having recurring problems with the social media, according to principal for academic affairs Barbara McCormick.
Every faculty and staff member signed a policy statement called the Social Media Policy at the beginning of last year.  It prevents teachers from accepting student’s friend requests on any social networking site, especially Facebook, according to McCormick.
“I do not have any reservations about how our teachers act,” McCormick said.  “I believe that they are very mature adults, it is just that there is a huge liability that comes with [accepting students as friends on social media].”
According to McCormick there could be misunderstandings that result in a legal liability for the school.
“It is kind of like what you [students] sign, which is an [Acceptable Use Policy], only [the teachers] sign it about social media,” McCormick said.

History teacher Richard Shrock recently stopped accepting students as friends on Facebook because of the Social Media Policy.  He also “de-friended” any students who he was friends with before the policy.
“I see a potential risk in [accepting students’ requests], but I also feel like [faculty and staff] could handle that in a way that it would be fine if you use Facebook in a purely educational way with students,” Shrock said.
Originally Shrock used Facebook to keep his two clubs, Model UN and SADD club, up to date on their different club activities.
“I started [accepting student friend requests] in order to have an online connection about clubs,” Shrock said.  “It was sort of the easiest way for students to let each other know about things for the club and to communicate with one another.”
Theology teacher Mary Jo Coughlin does not accept student’s friend requests on Facebook because she would prefer students to not know about her personal life.
“I do not want to eavesdrop on students outside of school, nor do I want them to be involved in my personal life,” Coughlin said.
Coughlin believes that most students are just trying to be friendly and mean no harm when asking to be friends with their teachers on social media.
“I try to speak to the student if I have ignored her request so she knows why I did it and does not think I am just choosing to ignore her,” Coughlin said.
Junior Miranda Green recently sent friend requests to her grade school teachers at Our Lady of the Angels in order to keep in touch.  Many of the teachers she friend-ed were also family friends.  Green thinks it becomes an issue when students send friend requests to current teachers.
“I think befriending teachers is kind of weird, especially if you are in their class,” Green said.  “Being friends with your teachers could be embarrassing if they saw a picture of you or your status.”
According to Coughlin, students may just want to know more about their teachers and what they like to do outside of school.
“I guess some students are naturally curious about what their teachers are like outside of school and what they like to do,” Coughlin said.  “I do not think there is anything malicious involved.”