My DS is in Honor Algebra 1 which is technically a 9th grade math class. The majority of students in his class are 8th graders (he's a 7th grader).
Obviously, the vast majority of kids in our district taking Algebra 1 (honors or not) are 9th graders (14 or 15)
He came home the other day and said he had to sign up for an online website called Algebra Nation but in order to be on it he has to have a Facebook account.
I am highly opposed to him being on social media of any kind... I don't think it's really necessary to use social media in schools...
He's not even old enough by Facebook's own policy to have an account. In order to sign up, he'd have to lie about his age.
His teacher is requiring him to complete worksheets and watch videos on this website.
What would you do?
The people you do your life with shape the life you live
I tried sending an email, but got no response.
Mind you, I am all for the schools using technology as a teaching aid. But FB is not the way to go, IMO. And to require it for middle school kids is just ...absurd!
I would email the teacher again with your concerns and cc the department head or counselor. Explain that your son cannot get a FB account because of his age and you are opposed to lying about his age in order to get the account. Ask that the material be made available in some other format.
And if that does not work, go to the principal.
It is actually illegal for your child to sign up for FB until they are 13. I am speaking as an educator.
"In life, unlike chess, the game continues after checkmate." - Asimov "Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you." - Ovid
I am thinking of creating a Twitter account that would be under my control where the kids can tweet questions or comments to authors. I can let the kids know if the author responded, or not. I'm still very much up in the air about this, though. I also haven't run it past my principal.
There is an English teacher in our high school who posts homework and class updates on a Twitter account. It's a locked account and she only approves current parents and students.
As for emailing the teacher, our school email was down for several days. It was working for about half a day. Then it was back down again for a couple of days. The tech department was unable to "rescue" any emails that were sent, but we didn't see. We sent home a letter explaining it to parents, but we don't know how many parents actually were given the letter by their kiddos.
So, email or call the teacher again. Then I would followup with the principal.
And It was a required assignment because it's on the teacher's website page under Homework. Do blah blah blah thru Algebra Nation.
Travels - I teach in the same district that my son attends and all our email is thru the same server, so I know email is functional. I have been getting work emails all night.
I have a Facebook account for myself, but I don't really want to hand over control of Facebook to my kid.
If it was just printing worksheets that'd be doable, but he has to watch instructional videos as well.
I'm not at all opposed to virtual learning or online courses at all... just the Facebook thing.
[This message edited by jrc1963 at 8:24 PM, October 2nd (Wednesday)]
Do public schools have handbooks like that? I can't believe there isn't a district policy on social media....
I think it is ridiculous. My DD is on FB, but she is 17 and has had hers for less than a year. My oldest son was 17 when he got his FB account. No kid of any age in any school should be required to sign up for FB.
Oddly enough, after checking it out, I am now going to show Algebra Nation to my DD!
I think I am over-tired because I cannot stop saying "It's a 'Planet' in the 'Facebook Universe'" over and over. Therefore, I have those laughing spasms that you just cannot stop no matter how hard you try.
She back peddled a bit and said it wasn't "mandatory" - even tho she's assigning it as homework.
Then she suggested that I let him view the videos thru MY Facebook account while supervising him.
For the record, DS is always supervised when on the computer!
Anyway... That's where I'm going to leave it for now.
Honestly facebook is fading into the background now, my kids are more into twitter, instagram, and snapchat.
It's tough to know how to keep up with the technology, and what's right and what isn't. My daughter needed to clarify something with her golf coach so she sent a text, this is a evidently a BIG no-no. Parents can, kids cannot. I understand the reasons, but sheezsh!!! Try to teach a kid to be responsible for themselves, and they get balled out for doing it.
What is the school's policy?
Has the school or teacher got s policy on ensuring that all students have access to homework and resources outside of school? For example, do they have a policy for making stuff accessible for students without tech at home?
For the future, I would loop in all of the following persons when corresponding with w teacher about issues that have a larger policy issue behind them (as in, is this appropriate homework, as opposed to what is the homework):
Teacher counselor Lead teacher (if your child is at a school with teaching teams for grade levels or subjects) Assistant principal for the grade level or team
If anyone else gets cc'd in (say the asst principal cc's the tech teacher), include that person in all subsequent correspondence on the question.
Speaking from personal experience, you may get a rep as a bit of a pain in the ass, but your questions will get addressed fairly quickly because everyone can see just who is slacking on responses.
Eta: if the school does not have a policy re Facebook for schoolwork, they ought to -- substantial privacy issues there. I work at a university and we can't require students to participate in any sort of online hosting that could potentially violate FERPA (educ records access and privacy law). Privacy for minor students is I think even stricter.
[This message edited by StrongerOne at 4:51 PM, October 4th (Friday)]
But I do know that within the schools themselves, Facebook is blocked from all computers, even teachers computers. I can't access mine during the day at work if I'm using a network computer or school wifi.
So it seemed very strange to me indeed that a online resource that exists solely in Facebook should be required for homework.
BTW - When I sent my initial email I CC'd the principal - I didn't bother CC'ing all the other folks. I figured Teacher and Principal were enough.
And I'm pretty sure I've already got a PITA reputation at this school... But oh well.
Gaby - no iPhone, iPad or Android phone in this house for him to use.
There are plenty of educational sites that don't require FB. Personally, my first thoughts would go to "Why does this teacher want access to students through FB?", but that's just me and I'm sure I'm over-protective and maybe a bit paranoid.
