Should teacher Google her struggling students?

Q: I’m a new teacher in my mid-20s. Maybe it’s generational, but I do Google searches on everyone in my life. Sometimes it’s just idle curiosity, such as wondering about an old classmate or an ex-boyfriend, but other times I’m trying to make good, healthy decisions in my own life. For instance, I might search a potential employer or look up a guy I’ve been exchanging messages with on a dating website. I mean, who wants to work for a principal who got trashed in an online discussion forum or go out on a date with a man who was convicted of abusing an ex-girlfriend? You can find out a lot about people online, so I’m not planning to stop anytime soon.

In recent months, however, I’ve also felt a strong urge to Google specific students. The desire comes from a place of concern and not only curiosity. I might worry they’re depressed and are at risk of harming themselves, or I might notice that they’re disruptive or have stopped coming to class. Or maybe I’ve heard them make inappropriate (think sexist, homophobic, racist, or violent) comments, or I suspect they’re being abused or neglected at home. As I’ve discovered in my personal life, Google is a fertile ground for information, and I want to make sure I don’t miss any red flags. If my students haven’t locked their accounts to private, then they must know they’re risking this sort of thing, right? Am I within my rights to look them up online? Do you think it’s a bad idea?

A: Every behavior serves a need. That’s as true for you as it is for your students. For instance, you want to look up your students online because you’re worried about them and want to offer support. That’s admirable but Googling them without their consent not only violates their privacy, it also possibly violates school policies and ethical guidelines. Plus, you may turn up inaccurate or misleading information that could bias you against them and lead you to treat them unfairly. The good news is that there are other, more effective ways to provide a safety net.