Cassandra asks this question as a follow-up to my Ask Jamie post on children’s privacy. This question was also asked by a real life friend recently.
Do you ever worry about your students finding your blog?
I worried about my students finding the blog more when I worked at the local high school but even then I would not say that it was a major concern. I’ve always been pretty open with my students and most of my students did know that I was dealing with infertility — my lack of children always managed to come up in class and I was vague but open about what I was going through.
Honestly, I don’t think many of my students would take the time to Google me. They have more important people to stalk! 
On the old blog, I discussed a few aspects of my job that I probably should not have mentioned in a public forum, but I do not feel that I ever crossed the line with regard to my students.
On the old blog, I discussed a few aspects of my job that I probably should not have mentioned in a public forum, but I do not feel that I ever crossed the line with regard to my students.This blog has numerous posts about my yearbook girls — including pictures of them. Several of my former students do stop by and read the blog (these are the students that I now consider friends and I am friends with them on Facebook – and yes, I have strict guidelines that I will not friend students until after they have graduated – yearbook girls were the exception) and this doesn’t bother me at all. I’ve even had a few stop by my house and ask me for advice now that they are starting their own families. If anything, I’m teaching them that teachers are real people too. Sometimes I think students have a perception that teachers do not have lives outside of the classroom and that obviously is not the case.
Now that I am teaching online, I truly do not worry in the slightest if a student finds my blog. If they want to Google me and truly care that much about what I am doing then they probably need to be spending more time writing their papers. I am careful about what I post regarding my current job (trust me, there are days when I’d love to blog about some of the stupidity and apathy) and if they find me, it wouldn’t bother me. What I put on this blog is for public consumption. That doesn’t mean it is always right or politically correct, but I put it here with the assumption that people will read it — local people who don’t want to come out of the closet and admit they are reading my blog (yes, I’m talking to you…), students (past, present, and future), family, future employers, everyone.
I am careful about what I post regarding my current job (trust me, there are days when I’d love to blog about some of the stupidity and apathy) and if they find me, it wouldn’t bother me. What I put on this blog is for public consumption. That doesn’t mean it is always right or politically correct, but I put it here with the assumption that people will read it — local people who don’t want to come out of the closet and admit they are reading my blog (yes, I’m talking to you…), students (past, present, and future), family, future employers, everyone. Maybe this is a poor way to look at this — but I truly don’t care what anyone thinks about me and that includes students. The most important people in my life do read the blog and when I truly make an ass out of myself — they forgive me. Because they love me, despite my quirks. I try my best to show my true colors (good and bad) on the blog. Sometimes I contradict myself. Sometimes I make people upset. Sometimes I upset myself. Sometimes I stick my foot in my mouth. But it’s me. Read it or click-away, it’s ultimately your choice to be here.
I try my best to show my true colors (good and bad) on the blog. Sometimes I contradict myself. Sometimes I make people upset. Sometimes I upset myself. Sometimes I stick my foot in my mouth. But it’s me. Read it or click-away, it’s ultimately your choice to be here. Do you worry about your students/colleagues/family finding your blog? Why?
Friday’s Feature at Sticky Feet Part Deux is Ask Jamie. Feel free to email me or leave a comment with any question you would like for me to answer. Anything is fair game!
When I started my blog I emailed all my friends and family to tell them about it. There are times when I wish I hadn't done that though as I feel it limits what I can talk about. The few times I have mentioned family in a less-than-positive light I have gotten a lot of backlash which definitely hasn't been fun.
However, other than that issue, I'm a very open person and don't mind if people in my real life read my blog.
well said!! many times i disagree with the way you think–but i don't comment, because you're right–it's my choice to read your blog (so i feel sometimes it's best to keep my mouth shut-it's your life and there is no reason making anyone mad over conflicting beliefs)
love ya!
Thanks for answering the question!
I worry more about family finding my blog. Because of the level of anonymity I've established, it would be impossible for colleagues to find it, if they even cared enough to do so which I doubt. There have been times when I've censored saying something to a friend (or lamented when I've heard it coming out of my husband's mouth) because I'd already blogged about it and an online search for that combination of words would lead to my blog. Then I come to my senses and realize that no one is going to remember that combination of words, much less go and search online for it.
Ultimately I wouldn't be bothered if individual friends found my blog, but more that if anyone knew about it, it could be easier for it to eventually get back to family. I say too many negative things about specific relatives (all with good cause, and in fact I don't say 1/10 of the things I could) for my blog to ever be shown to them.
I was TOTALLY busted by my principal, and paid a heavy price. I learned a lot from that, and have picked myself up and moved forward.
It's a tough pill to swallow….but a lesson learned.