My son middle school teacher had issued out her personal cell phone number to her class in case they need help academically. Is this type of thing professional, or ethical? If not, what measures should I take to correct this behavior?
i personally think it is. as a former police explorer, i had situations where personal information in public places can cause a type of offensive reaction between both parents and teachers, especially when it comes to personal interaction with your own children. my suggestion would be to go to the principal and express your concern over the matter. let him know that even though she may not have any type of intention toward the children, other parents wont see it that way. furthermore, offer some alternative means of communication like her school email address or classroom number as a contact. also, most schools have a voicemail program that will allow teachers to record a long message with information. if that school offers that, ask that she record the weekly assignments on there as well as provide her school email address and some website where they can also seek help. there are many website out there designed for every child of whichever grade level to seek help. hope this helps
January 28th, 2010 at 7:07 am
It depends on the intention. If the teacher’s intention was to seriously help the class, then there is nothing wrong in my opinion.
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January 28th, 2010 at 7:28 am
i personally think it is. as a former police explorer, i had situations where personal information in public places can cause a type of offensive reaction between both parents and teachers, especially when it comes to personal interaction with your own children. my suggestion would be to go to the principal and express your concern over the matter. let him know that even though she may not have any type of intention toward the children, other parents wont see it that way. furthermore, offer some alternative means of communication like her school email address or classroom number as a contact. also, most schools have a voicemail program that will allow teachers to record a long message with information. if that school offers that, ask that she record the weekly assignments on there as well as provide her school email address and some website where they can also seek help. there are many website out there designed for every child of whichever grade level to seek help. hope this helps
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former police explorer/former high school office assistant
January 28th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Of course, when your child has a homework question, you don’t want them asking you, do ya?
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January 28th, 2010 at 8:19 am
I would not do this but know some that do. I don’t feel it is professional as there are other ways to communicate. However, unless the school prohibits this there is nothing you can do.
Middle School and High School students sometimes would like to talk to their teacher when doing homework they do not understand. I have a separate e-mail and IM I use just for students (many schools give teachers one to use through the school network).
The other problem I have giving out a phone number is the fact that many kids this age like to do phone pranks.
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January 28th, 2010 at 9:01 am
It’s not professional at all! If that was the case she would’ve called the parents and let the parents hold the number that way if the parents can’t help them, the PARENTS can call. You should go to your child’s school and ask to speak to the principal about the situation. See if he/she can make a meeting between you, them, and this teacher. Explain that you feel that your child having the teacher’s cell number doesn’t seem professional to you and that you would appreciate if (with a team effort) they can avoid something like this again. What are you made to think when a grown adult gives children their cell phone number? Even if they say it’s for them to get help academically. If children are having issues they should do it the old fashion way and stay after school to get one-on-one help.
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I’m a Mom
January 28th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Many school systems are beginning to discourage this practice because it can lead to questionable actions. It may be that your school system has not addressed the issue yet. However, if you are not comfortable with it, then I would recommend making your concerns known to the administration, along with researching those cases that have arisen because of students having teacher personal numbers. Every teacher should have an e-mail address provided by the school. That is sufficient for academic help, as well as the teacher being willing to spend extra time before or after class when necessary.
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January 28th, 2010 at 10:00 am
I think it is refreshing to find a teacher who is interested enough in her students to willingly give up free time to help them.
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January 28th, 2010 at 10:26 am
She must be naive. She could get herself into all sorts of trouble.
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January 28th, 2010 at 10:57 am
I think that it is completely fine because at the middle school I went to (one of the KIPP schools) all teachers had to give the students their cell phone numbers as it is school policy. It is really useful too, as I used this resource several times and helped a lot with homework as well as a form of communication between my parents and the teachers in case they had any questions and couldn’t schedule a meeting with the teacher. If you are really uncomfortable about it, I suggest you talk to the teacher to hear what they have to say about it.
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January 28th, 2010 at 11:09 am
I see nothing wrong with it, if you child has a question and you cant answer it, you will always have a reference. Maybe it was intended for the number to go to you if you have any questions about your child.
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January 28th, 2010 at 11:32 am
There is nothing unethical about this. The teacher is giving homework, and she wants to be available to provide assistance, if needed. It would be unethical if you discovered that she was using this connection for something other than academic purposes, of course, or if she demanded their cell phone numbers and started making personal or harassing calls to the students, but to offer help in a way in which she knows she will be available is not in any way unethical or unprofessional.
My nephew has had teachers since elementary school who have given out cell phone numbers, email addresses, and the like, because they know that is how young people communicate these days, and also because that is how they are best reached. Many people no longer have landlines in their homes, and cell phones are the only way of reaching them.
I’m a university dean, and I know that some of my faculty give out cell phone and home phone numbers to their students and tell them they can call for help at any time, while others have lives which require more privacy and limit their contacts with students to office phones and office hours. I wouldn’t criticize either, because the faculty have to decide, based on what they teach and what they are willing to deal with, how best to help their students learn. While your son is only in middle school, I would imagine that the same would apply to middle school teachers. Obviously, abuse would be inexcusable. I wouldn’t tolerate my professors "sexting" with their students, and it would be far worse if they were teaching young kids. But I wouldn’t assume that they would be doing that (it makes me laugh to think of some of the grandmotherly professors who do give out their phone numbers to students doing that!), and neither should you.
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January 28th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Unethical? No. Stupid? Yes. That’s just trouble looking for a place to happen. it is DEFINITELY not professional. It is the PERCEPTION of what COULD happen that makes this very dicey.
Truly, you need to talk to the principal about this. If this is a first year teacher, they’ll be a last year teacher. I can’t believe a teacher would do this with all the things that have been happening.
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January 28th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Yes it is and this is what it My son middle school teacher had issued out her personal cell phone number to her class in case they need help academically. Is this type of thing professional, or ethical? If not, what measures should I take to correct this behavior? No you should not correct the behavior. It is normal
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January 28th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
I wouldn’t say that it is unethical. Some teachers don’t give it out because they don’t want to be bothered. I have given out my cell phone number and I have ‘office hours’ between 7:00 and 8:00 in the evening. I don’t usually have my cell phone on during other times, but at 7:00 I turn it on in case I get calls from students or parents. If your child is calling the teacher, make sure that it is to ask questions about the class and that your child is not just making idle conversation.
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January 28th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Personally, I think that is fine. There are some teachers who provide their students with their cell phone number for personal reasons and I still think that is fine, depending on their connections after school hours. In this case, it is for academic reasons, so it is fine too.
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January 28th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Why would it be unethical. You should be happy your son’s teacher is putting time out of class in to help your son learn.
Most teachers don’t do that. Your son’s teacher actually cares.
Teachers at our school give out their cell#s to students.
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January 28th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I don’t really think this is unethical or unprofessional, as it appears that this teacher’s intent is to help, not hurt, the students. If I wanted to give out this information, I would have approached it differently by giving my number out to parents only, not directly to the students. (I have known teachers who have taken that approach.) If it really bothers you, please talk to the teacher first. Then, if you are not satisfied with her response and/or more red flags are raised, go to the principal. Hear her out first before jumping the gun and thinking she has some ulterior motive.
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January 28th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Just from what you’ve shared, if you march into the office and talk to administrator about this, they’re gonna be thanking you and then forgetting about you. They have far bigger problems in schools than what your describing.
Very glad you’re not one of the parents of the kids in my class.
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