A child steps onto a stage, gives a flawlessly rehearsed line, smiles at precisely the correct moment and waits while a teacher adjusts the camera. The performance is replayed because someone blinked. Then again because the background was untidy. Finally, the perfect shot is captured. Within hours, it emerges online with joyful music, polished captions and a message celebrating experiential learning. But halfway between the first take and the last reel, an uncomfortable question arises: Was the activity created for the child to learn or for the school to be seen?

Social media has surely changed how schools communicate. Parents today want glimpses of classroom life. Photographs and films may attractively document success, highlight ingenuity and give families a glimpse into situations they would otherwise miss. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with a school showing its work. The trouble occurs when presenting the work........

© The Pioneer