By MR. MATHER
LMSA Principal
In the October 9, 2013 of the New York Times, an article appeared entitled, “They Loved Your G.P.A. Then They Saw Your Tweets,” a piece about how many top-tier college admissions counselors are scanning social media to determine whether or not to send an acceptance letter to high-flying students.
In the article, the author states, “30 percent of the admissions officers said they had discovered information online that had negatively affected an applicant’s prospects.”
We have known that employers scan social media to help make hiring decisions; this was the first I had heard of colleges using what students post to help inform enrollment decisions.
In the fall edition of The Talon, an editorial took a negative view of Lindblom’s #ProtectTheNest campaign. I think it is important for me to articulate what the goals are--but, first, what they are not.
This is not a campaign to invade someone’s privacy. If a Twitter or Instagram account is open, there is no expectation of privacy. It is easy to make an account private.
Many of us at the school monitor students’ unprotected Tweets and Instagram postings for signs of bullying and disputes; these issues can be disruptive to students’ learning here at Lindblom. While I see many things that make me SMH, no one makes an effort to prevent the bizarre, profane, or ridiculous.
The #ProtectTheNest campaign is an effort to get the entire Lindblom community to take responsibility for one another, for anything that may damage a student’s ability to go where they want to go (to college), to do what they want to do (for a career) because of some youthful indiscretions.
Certainly, a downside to social media is that people react, and can react immediately. It can be a wonderful tool (and one I use regularly) to inform other what is happening or where we stand on an issue. But, when things get heated, one often does not take time to cool down before reacting without thinking about the consequences. We don’t want that moment of anger or hurt to diminish how people view you---or Lindblom.
So, #ProtectTheNest. Help each other tear down the barriers that could impede you from living the life you want to lead.
Go, Eagles!
Editors's Note: This article was written in response to an editorial about Protect the Nest that appeared in the print edition of the Talon. That editorial can be read on page four of the fall issue (pdf)
LMSA Principal
In the October 9, 2013 of the New York Times, an article appeared entitled, “They Loved Your G.P.A. Then They Saw Your Tweets,” a piece about how many top-tier college admissions counselors are scanning social media to determine whether or not to send an acceptance letter to high-flying students.
In the article, the author states, “30 percent of the admissions officers said they had discovered information online that had negatively affected an applicant’s prospects.”
We have known that employers scan social media to help make hiring decisions; this was the first I had heard of colleges using what students post to help inform enrollment decisions.
In the fall edition of The Talon, an editorial took a negative view of Lindblom’s #ProtectTheNest campaign. I think it is important for me to articulate what the goals are--but, first, what they are not.
This is not a campaign to invade someone’s privacy. If a Twitter or Instagram account is open, there is no expectation of privacy. It is easy to make an account private.
Many of us at the school monitor students’ unprotected Tweets and Instagram postings for signs of bullying and disputes; these issues can be disruptive to students’ learning here at Lindblom. While I see many things that make me SMH, no one makes an effort to prevent the bizarre, profane, or ridiculous.
The #ProtectTheNest campaign is an effort to get the entire Lindblom community to take responsibility for one another, for anything that may damage a student’s ability to go where they want to go (to college), to do what they want to do (for a career) because of some youthful indiscretions.
Certainly, a downside to social media is that people react, and can react immediately. It can be a wonderful tool (and one I use regularly) to inform other what is happening or where we stand on an issue. But, when things get heated, one often does not take time to cool down before reacting without thinking about the consequences. We don’t want that moment of anger or hurt to diminish how people view you---or Lindblom.
So, #ProtectTheNest. Help each other tear down the barriers that could impede you from living the life you want to lead.
Go, Eagles!
Editors's Note: This article was written in response to an editorial about Protect the Nest that appeared in the print edition of the Talon. That editorial can be read on page four of the fall issue (pdf)