Social Networking

When searching the pipl.com website the first site that popped up was my myspace account. Luckily I have known about teachers who have gotten in trouble for their myspace profiles so mine is set to private. The seconed site that popped up was my email address: wondergirlmg@hotmail.com. Im alright with others knowing my email address, however, because I haven't changed my email address since middle school Im not comfortable with using it professionally. Because I have played collegiate sports at three different schools I found many web pages about athletics. Im definately okay with having those available to others online because they are completely appropriate and I am proud of the majority of them. On the pipl.com website, there were pages qualifying the search that had my name on them but weren't me. It was kind of disturbing to me because they showed myspace profile pictures that I felt were inappropriate and something I would hate to get blamed for. I would hope that if someone searched my name that they would know that those pictures are not me.
After reading the provided article and searching my name through pipl.com, I made sure to follow all the links to the pages where my name was displayed. I wanted to make sure that I knew exactly what was available on the internet about me. I also made sure that my myspace was set to private just in case I misread anything by mistake. I also went ahead and created a new email through gmail that just includes my first and last name. I think that by doing this it will look alot more professional on a resume then my previous email address.
I believe that when an individual decides to make teaching their profession then they are aware that they are an important role model for students. By becoming a role model they should understand that they are always being watched. Whether it is their driving, going out to dinner or drinks in public, or going to a movie, they will most likely run into students, parents or administration. It is extremely important that they are always aware of their actions and anything else that would portray them in an inappropriate way to the public. When it comes to teachers speech, I think that teachers should be given the right of free speech, however, I believe that teachers should be aware of what is coming out of their mouths. It is hard to take one side or the other on this issue, I just feel that as a role model a teacher always needs to be aware of everything.
I thought the story about the teachers partners nude photos was quite interesting. Even though it wasn't the teacher who was nude and the nudity was art. it was perceived as completely inappropriate. When my sisters was going through her master's program, there was a guy who was also in the program who got kicked out for having inappropriate pictures on his myspace. He was part of a weight loss program and had taken before and after pictures in short spandex shorts. Because a student didn't like this guy as a student teacher, the student found these pictures on myspace and turned the teacher into the principal. He will now never teach in Oregon.
To protect myself from all the social networking chaos, Im going to make sure that Im always aware of what information is on the internet about me. With the social networks that I belong to, I will make sure that they are set to private and that the available information and display picture are completely appropriate.