Comments on: Hiding Behind My Blog http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/ Education, technology, and other geeky things Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:04:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Profesores bloggers, un dilema (¿o no?) ‹ AtapiStudio http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-228 Profesores bloggers, un dilema (¿o no?) ‹ AtapiStudio Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:17:11 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-228 [...] cualquier acceso a blogs o cualquier cosa parecida (todo explicado con detalle en su post Hiding behind my blog), y le había empezado a entrar miedo porque su identidad podría ser descubierta y su actividad [...] [...] cualquier acceso a blogs o cualquier cosa parecida (todo explicado con detalle en su post Hiding behind my blog), y le había empezado a entrar miedo porque su identidad podría ser descubierta y su actividad [...]

]]> By: The True Consequences of Blogging Anonymously : The Blog Herald http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-142 The True Consequences of Blogging Anonymously : The Blog Herald Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:39:52 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-142 [...] A. Davis has made standing in front of her blog work for her. The article she references, Hiding Behind My Blog, lists a lot of articles about others having trouble because they blogged publicly or were [...] [...] A. Davis has made standing in front of her blog work for her. The article she references, Hiding Behind My Blog, lists a lot of articles about others having trouble because they blogged publicly or were [...]

]]> By: Erik Ringmar http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-114 Erik Ringmar Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:53:14 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-114 Hi Kate, great discussion. Thanks for finding my book. Of course you should go on blogging! I got into very serious trouble with my university in London (the famous LSE) but I also managed to expose the hypocrisy of institutions that proclaim to believe in freedom of speech. The students supported me in an amazing way and in the end it was a very educational experience for everyone involved. My main conclusion was that I shouldn't be working at the LSE anymore. My book discusses my own cases but also a lot of other cases of people who have gotten into trouble for speaking their minds online. My conclusion is clear -- they can't stop us. We can say what we like and there is no way to shut us up. More here: http://www.ringmar.net/bloggersmanifesto/ Hi Kate, great discussion. Thanks for finding my book. Of course you should go on blogging! I got into very serious trouble with my university in London (the famous LSE) but I also managed to expose the hypocrisy of institutions that proclaim to believe in freedom of speech. The students supported me in an amazing way and in the end it was a very educational experience for everyone involved. My main conclusion was that I shouldn’t be working at the LSE anymore.

My book discusses my own cases but also a lot of other cases of people who have gotten into trouble for speaking their minds online. My conclusion is clear — they can’t stop us. We can say what we like and there is no way to shut us up.

More here: http://www.ringmar.net/bloggersmanifesto/

]]> By: mrsolson http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-95 mrsolson Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:11:01 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-95 Susan - Thank you so much for your wonderful contribution to this post. That's what comments are for, to add to the discussion. I look forward to hearing back from you as to where I can find Doug Noon's blog! Susan -

Thank you so much for your wonderful contribution to this post. That’s what comments are for, to add to the discussion. I look forward to hearing back from you as to where I can find Doug Noon’s blog!

]]> By: Susan Funk http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-93 Susan Funk Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:48:34 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-93 Last year, I started my blogging journey while I was on an educational leave. It was easy to write and reflect about what I was doing but I was constantly working on the balance between critique and cranky particularly with things happening in my local division. I had to be careful which is challenging for me. I tend to speak my mind. I did send my blog address to my Superintendent. I don't know if she ever drops by. I do know I have some local readers but most are from afar. I have slowly started to develop what it means for me to be honest and reflective and professional and public. This year has made things even more challenging. I am back in the classroom. I have been too busy and tired and frustrated to blog most of the time. I have started to work on the balance again this time as a classroom teacher. How do I speak critically of my own performance in the classroom? I am very critical of myself. What will those criticisms mean to my employer but also to any member of the public who might run across them. I take my guidance in part from Doug Noon. He writes honestly and eloquently about his classroom experiences. He reflects on his reading and his classroom and the challenges between ideal and real. He is honest and specific but never names names or outright complains. I am heartened, encouraged and challenged by his writing. I feel he is a friend though we have never met. I think my connection to him is stronger because I know his face, his name and his approximate location. These details make his room 'alive' to me. He could blog anonymously. He could blog under a pseudonym. I don't know how I would feel about either of those or if it would change the connection. I encourage you to find a comfortable place in the community. Perhaps as you blog you will find that balance between public and private, personal and professional and when you think you have it. Let us know. I'm still looking but I believe that my experiences finding that balance will be helpful to my students as I try to help them develop good online habits which will allow them to pursue both their right to free expression and need to have gainful employment. Last year, I started my blogging journey while I was on an educational leave. It was easy to write and reflect about what I was doing but I was constantly working on the balance between critique and cranky particularly with things happening in my local division. I had to be careful which is challenging for me. I tend to speak my mind. I did send my blog address to my Superintendent. I don’t know if she ever drops by. I do know I have some local readers but most are from afar.

I have slowly started to develop what it means for me to be honest and reflective and professional and public.

This year has made things even more challenging. I am back in the classroom. I have been too busy and tired and frustrated to blog most of the time. I have started to work on the balance again this time as a classroom teacher. How do I speak critically of my own performance in the classroom? I am very critical of myself. What will those criticisms mean to my employer but also to any member of the public who might run across them.

I take my guidance in part from Doug Noon. He writes honestly and eloquently about his classroom experiences. He reflects on his reading and his classroom and the challenges between ideal and real. He is honest and specific but never names names or outright complains. I am heartened, encouraged and challenged by his writing. I feel he is a friend though we have never met. I think my connection to him is stronger because I know his face, his name and his approximate location. These details make his room ‘alive’ to me. He could blog anonymously. He could blog under a pseudonym. I don’t know how I would feel about either of those or if it would change the connection.

I encourage you to find a comfortable place in the community. Perhaps as you blog you will find that balance between public and private, personal and professional and when you think you have it. Let us know. I’m still looking but I believe that my experiences finding that balance will be helpful to my students as I try to help them develop good online habits which will allow them to pursue both their right to free expression and need to have gainful employment.

]]> By: mrsolson http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-87 mrsolson Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:20:46 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-87 All - Thank you so much for your support as I was struggling with this issue. As you can see on my latest post, the issue is resolved for me, but I'm sure it's not for many other teacher/bloggers. I'll be sure to do my part in paving the way for new and anonymous bloggers in the future. All -

Thank you so much for your support as I was struggling with this issue. As you can see on my latest post, the issue is resolved for me, but I’m sure it’s not for many other teacher/bloggers. I’ll be sure to do my part in paving the way for new and anonymous bloggers in the future.

]]> By: Jess McCulloch http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-80 Jess McCulloch Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:10:15 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-80 You've really stirred up a bit of discussion with this - and rightly so. have you seen <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2008/01/why-should-teachers-have-to-hide-behind.html" rel="nofollow">vicki's post</a> about your post? There is lots of blocking in Australian schools as well which is forever infuriating, but as yet I have never felt that blogging is something I shouldn't be doing. My principal even sent a link to my blog to a few people in our region to brag she says! I am incredibly thankful for the support I have. Even the leadership team at my school bemoan some things that are blocked. I don't work in an American school district, so I don't know enough to say 'don't worry too much' exactly, but you know that you are a responsible blogger and will always do the right thing by yourself your school and your students, so be wary I guess (which is a responsible thing to do anway!), but not frightened. You’ve really stirred up a bit of discussion with this - and rightly so. have you seen vicki’s post about your post?
There is lots of blocking in Australian schools as well which is forever infuriating, but as yet I have never felt that blogging is something I shouldn’t be doing. My principal even sent a link to my blog to a few people in our region to brag she says! I am incredibly thankful for the support I have. Even the leadership team at my school bemoan some things that are blocked.
I don’t work in an American school district, so I don’t know enough to say ‘don’t worry too much’ exactly, but you know that you are a responsible blogger and will always do the right thing by yourself your school and your students, so be wary I guess (which is a responsible thing to do anway!), but not frightened.

]]> By: Michelle http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-78 Michelle Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:15:13 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-78 Wow, Kate! You've really raised some questions to think about. I'm not even sure I can wrap my mind around this one right now. (It seems to be my weekend to get my brain stretched...first the movie last night, Sunday School this morning and now your blog post!) It does seem rather "Big Brother-ish" to think we have to "hide" behind our blogs. I hate the fact that our freedom of expression is being hampered by those who don't really understand the medium we're using. However, I also feel that as bloggers we need to act grown up and responsible for what we put online. If we post it, we must be willing to own our words, pictures, etc. This is going to make me do some more thinking.....thanks for the brain stretch! Wow, Kate! You’ve really raised some questions to think about. I’m not even sure I can wrap my mind around this one right now. (It seems to be my weekend to get my brain stretched…first the movie last night, Sunday School this morning and now your blog post!) It does seem rather “Big Brother-ish” to think we have to “hide” behind our blogs. I hate the fact that our freedom of expression is being hampered by those who don’t really understand the medium we’re using. However, I also feel that as bloggers we need to act grown up and responsible for what we put online. If we post it, we must be willing to own our words, pictures, etc. This is going to make me do some more thinking…..thanks for the brain stretch!

]]> By: Kristin Hokanson http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-77 Kristin Hokanson Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:56:21 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-77 I agree with Vicki...being transparent and encouraging your admin to do the same is empowering. I think her point about 'not airing dirty laundry' is an important one. How many folks complain 'around the water cooler'. The blogosphere is like a giant public watercooler and that is where folks need to be careful and aware. But being careful doesn't mean you shouldn't be thoughtful, question, think and reflect. I agree with Vicki…being transparent and encouraging your admin to do the same is empowering. I think her point about ‘not airing dirty laundry’ is an important one. How many folks complain ‘around the water cooler’. The blogosphere is like a giant public watercooler and that is where folks need to be careful and aware. But being careful doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be thoughtful, question, think and reflect.

]]> By: Shane Stevens http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-76 Shane Stevens Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:31:13 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/01/20/hiding-under-my-blog/#comment-76 Being a teacher in Ohio, I received the newsletter mentioned in your post, being somewhat stubborn I promptly tossed it into the trash. With that said, however, I do think it is important that educators understand their district policy on such issues. My district has more-or-less everything blocked, so I purchased hosting and have put up a class site. I understand not everyone can do this, but for me it was something I felt was important. After the technology coordinator found out I had done this, magically all the URL's from my host was blocked and a "rule" was emailed to all employees stating any website a teacher was using as a class site must be linked through our official site. Thus, I did the right thing and email the coordinator. That was four years ago and my site still is not linked. The good news is I had the block lifted from my site as soon as I found out about it, and since then other teachers have asked about joining me. Just this year our football coach asked me if he could have a page. Unfortunately all this is taking place because the coordinator does not embrace the technology he boasts about and has made the official site a bare bones informative site. Hang in there and do what you know is right. Others will join, and eventually support, you and that is how change occurs. Being a teacher in Ohio, I received the newsletter mentioned in your post, being somewhat stubborn I promptly tossed it into the trash.

With that said, however, I do think it is important that educators understand their district policy on such issues.

My district has more-or-less everything blocked, so I purchased hosting and have put up a class site. I understand not everyone can do this, but for me it was something I felt was important. After the technology coordinator found out I had done this, magically all the URL’s from my host was blocked and a “rule” was emailed to all employees stating any website a teacher was using as a class site must be linked through our official site. Thus, I did the right thing and email the coordinator. That was four years ago and my site still is not linked.

The good news is I had the block lifted from my site as soon as I found out about it, and since then other teachers have asked about joining me. Just this year our football coach asked me if he could have a page.

Unfortunately all this is taking place because the coordinator does not embrace the technology he boasts about and has made the official site a bare bones informative site.

Hang in there and do what you know is right. Others will join, and eventually support, you and that is how change occurs.

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