Should a teacher have students on his XBL friends list?

I have been a teacher for about 4 years in the high school and middle school.  I often talk about playing games with my students because it helps build up a familiar relationship where we can identify with each other and are better able to communicate.  The problem is that several of my students want to be my friends on XBL and I'm not sure what to do about it.  I honestly don't play a lot of online shooters or anything, so I wouldn't even end up playing with them a lot, but they would be able to see what games I am playing and things like that.
 
The few times I have tried to be friends with students online it has been awkward.  I have tried to make sure they aren't in my class anymore and that kind of thing, but it is still just kind of weird.
 
Anyone have any opinions on this subject?

Why couldn't you have been one of my teachers? :(
 
I think it would be a great idea to get that sort of relationship with your students (as long as it doesn't effect how lenient you are). I would say go for it.

No. Don't. Seriously, don't do it.
 
You're supposed to be a guide to the student, not their chum (Although, there's nothing wrong with being friendly with a student)
 
When you actually hang out with the student, it blurs the line between guide and chum. And imagine your student bringing up that 'sweet headshot' you made in Call of Duty last night around others. Awkward?
 
Of course, what the hell do I know, I'm not a teacher.

I used to have a teacher in my school on XBL. I can see how it is a bit daunting, but if you just treat them like you would any of your other XBL friends, I can't see the big problem. :)

creepy shit, cant you just stick to hitting on the hot chicks???

Well, first thing to do is to make sure school policy allows it.

Wait till they're over 18 to avoid any trouble. Honestly it might just look bad, esp given how many cases there have been recently. 
It's always nice to meet someone you connect with at work, but maybe leave it like that? Just talk to them during passing periods about game rather than extend it outside of your student-teacher relationship.  If they ask why you don't want to be XBLA friends with them, just explain that it's not  appropriate.

You shouldn't do it. You could get yourself fired.
Plus, even if you did it would probably cause some students to be too friendly and want things such as better grades or something.

 No. Don't. Seriously, don't do it.  You're supposed to be a guide to the student, not their chum

I'm just a sub for the Middle school in my district  and I wouldn't. If I was an actual teacher, I absolutely would not. Those kids can use anything you say or do and warp it, also, I think the respect issue comes into play, like others said. 

It's not even a big deal, we used to play with a teacher in our school in Wow, and we would try and gank him every night, it was awesome, as long as your a teacher in school it doesn't matter.

That sounds perfectly fine.

Nope, bad idea.  After they're out of school in college there wouldn't be a problem with it, but while you're teaching I think it's unwise.  There's this whole unspoken rule about too much fraternization with students.  People will question the contact even if it is completely harmless.

Yeah I'm pretty sure adding them would just lead to awkward situations on both sides.

" Those kids can use anything you say or do and warp it  "

This thread is making me upset a little. 
 
Can teachers seriously not be friendly with students anymore?

I see nothing positive that can come from this. A bit creepy in my opinion.

No, because stuff like this is always creepy.

Nope

Why do some of you say it's creepy... time to stop thinking of teachers as the enemy.

I don't get why it's creepy. Not everyone is a pedophile.

Don't do it until they've graduated from whatever tier you teach. It's fine if you play a few games with them I guess, but don't get friendly with them or anything (if you're even comfortable with that) until after they graduate if they still give a damn (and knowing us high school students, we won't).

"

It's not even a big deal, we used to play with a teacher in our school in Wow, and we would try and gank him every night, it was awesome, as long as your a teacher in school it doesn't matter.

"

Yeah,I think engaging your students on a social level like that would blur the lines between mentor and pupil, creating an environment where they don't respect you as a teacher anymore.

Nah, I have a couple old teachers on my friends list. As long as you're not their teacher anymore, I don't think there's a problem.

It's kinda weird, don't do it.
 
And honestly, it's a bad idea for them as well. Just think, it's the night before a big exam and instead of them studying, you find them playing games all night long on XBL. WTF?

" This thread is making me upset a little.   Can teachers seriously not be friendly with students anymore? "

This whole thing reminds me of this
 
 

don't do it, something similar happened to me and a teacher.

" @Dethfish77 said:

" This thread is making me upset a little.   Can teachers seriously not be friendly with students anymore? "

Teachers can be friendly, but not borderline pedophile friendly. I'm not saying OP is a pedo, I'm just saying that's how everyone else will see it. "

" No. Don't. Seriously, don't do it.  You're supposed to be a guide to the student, not their chum (Although, there's nothing wrong with being friendly with a student)  When you actually hang out with the student, it blurs the line between guide and chum. "

" don't do it, something similar happened to me and a teacher. "

" @clubsandwich said:

" don't do it, something similar happened to me and a teacher. "

What, he raped you? "

" @Delta_Ass said:

" @clubsandwich said:

" don't do it, something similar happened to me and a teacher. "

What, he raped you? "

Probably got fired. "

I think you should go for it, I had a really close relationship (not that kind of close) with a teacher in high school, he would even give me things like some of his favorite books to read and we went to the beach one time, and it wasn't awkward in school at all. We were just really good friends. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. We talked about things like life and even sometimes some of the work he gave me. He would give me constructive criticism, and all that. And he never marked me more than anyone else in the class!

I still think this is dumb but if it has the potential to get you fired then don't do it.

" @TheMustacheHero said:

" @Dethfish77 said:

" This thread is making me upset a little.   Can teachers seriously not be friendly with students anymore? "

Teachers can be friendly, but not borderline pedophile friendly. I'm not saying OP is a pedo, I'm just saying that's how everyone else will see it. "

And that's what upsets me, that everyone's mind would jump right to that. "

What I should have said in my post is that, If I managed to recieve gifts AND go to the beach AND hang out with my teacher-friend during lunch in the cafeteria, and HE didn't get fired, I think you'll be safe for adding them to XBL. If you're really that concerned, don't play online games with them. The most they can do is see your achievements and see what you're currently playing. Then you can talk about it at school. How is that bad? How will that get you fired?

I had a few teachers that were way into Modern Warfare, what's the big fuckin deal?

I'm not sure.  Maybe if you made a new account you could.  I would always keep a private account so I wouldn't get bugged all the time.

"This whole thing reminds me of this
 
 

"

I agree with the sentiment, no until they are no longer your student and have no chance of being your student again, this way you can not be accused of favoritism or something more nefarious.

I can't imagine playing online with my students if I were a teacher. I can totally see situations like that being blown out of proportion by some idiot. Then it leading to something else like the kid's mother finding out and raising hell.

" @Dethfish77 said:

" This thread is making me upset a little.   Can teachers seriously not be friendly with students anymore? "

Teachers can be friendly, but not borderline pedophile friendly. I'm not saying OP is a pedo, I'm just saying that's how everyone else will see it. "

I did, then my xbox broke. But yeah, we had some good times, no big deal.

imho yes its fine. But sadly with the way the world works these days its only a matter of time until something bad comes of it. I had one teacher in high school who was forced to move to a different school because she kept hanging out with 2-3 certain students alone a lot. They never did anything other then become good friends but apparently one of the kids parents freaked out and got the teacher in trouble, even though she didn't do anything but treat the kid with respect. After that non of the teachers in my school would hang out with 1 or 2 students alone, EVER. There always had to be at least one other person around because they where afraid something similar would happen.
 
It's sad really, the best teachers i have ever had in my life where the ones who treated us like friends and equals, not just another faceless student in their room. If a student can feel like you see them as a human being who is willing to give even the slightest amount of effort to care about them personally instead of seeing them as nothing more then another faceless drone, then they will take the time and effort to try and be more interested in what it is your trying to teach, even if it doesn't interest them. Sadly because of all the fear mongering news channels and news papers put out, people are too afraid to. Which is sad, because in the end it might have saved 1-2 people but its dooming generates  to a far worse fate. For better or worse i know i wouldn't be the same person i am today with the same opinions that i have, if it wasn't for those teachers who treated me like a human being. Sadly given the state of my life over the past 5 years that doesn't really amount to a good thing.
 
Take it as you will. In the end it probably wont amount to anything other then playing a few games online from time to time, but if you find a kid who is logging on every night and trying to play with just you i would step back. Sadly there is a lot of bad things that can happen very quickly, and end even worse.