It’s a Tuesday night and Isabela Murillo’s phone goes off. Her parents have been added to her school transportation chat group. She checks the group for the school’s basketball team and sees staff member Freddie Badillo has been added as well. “Huh,” she wonders, “what’s this all about?” Last month a new policy was implemented in TCS, where student-teacher relationships through all social media are forbidden. We think the new policy has positive and negative aspects, but will overall benefit the TCS community.

“The school is making these changes because they are being implemented worldwide in many schools, and they look to protect our students from all kinds of abuse,” said TCS Elementary School vice principal, Ana Mercedes Vélez. These regulations are part of an increasingly common school program called Child Protection. Teachers will not be allowed to follow, or be followed by, any students in platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Additionally, WhatsApp groups between students and teachers must now be overseen by a parent or a member of the school’s administration. Teachers will have to sign a contract and will be held accountable if they don’t comply with the policy.

The superintendent, Ruth Allen,  informed all teachers of the new rules through a compulsory general assembly. K4 teacher, Javier Vélez, attended said meeting and was all for the security measures the school was taking. “Partly I agree because this type of [supervised] communication can create trust between students and teachers,” he said. However, J. Vélez has dual feelings, because he provides a transportation service to high school students, and their main way of communication is through WhatsApp. “On the other hand, I disagree because in my circumstances the [current] communication is easier and more effective.”

There are others, however, that believe the restrictive guidelines counter the traditionally warm relationships between students and staff.  “I think it is completely pathetic and an overreaction by the school,” Junior Sofia Niño said, “It is really within the Colombian and Paisa culture to be really friendly with each other and for [teachers] to treat us like friends and family,” Niño said she understands why having teachers as friends in social media could be problematic, but that the school is cutting off the ability to communicate responsibly with them as well. “Having teachers in WhatsApp is the most useful thing ever. They try to sell you the idea that the school’s Gmail is the god-form of communication, but honestly, teachers and students don’t check their emails. If I need an immediate answer, I can ask through WhatsApp and get it; I can’t do that via email.”

There are many contrasting opinions about the Child Protection policy, but it’s here to stay regardless. The school directives aim to establish clear boundaries between the kids and the staff, that will protect the privacy of both parties. Although it might take some time to get used to by everyone, it will create a safe environment and many incidents will be prevented.