Missouri Law Says Students, Teachers Can't Be Facebook Friends

An anonymous reader writes "Teachers can be friendly with their students, but they can't be their friends, at least when it comes to social networks such as Facebook. State Governor Jay Nixon has signed Senate Bill 54, which goes into effect on August 28, 2011 in the state of Missouri. In other words, later this month it will be illegal for students and teachers to be friends online."

Re:Wait, they have the internet in Missouri?

[UnknowingFool]

Your analogy is not apt as there is a difference between dating and associating. Also the restriction means they lose the license for unprofessional conduct. The state did not make it illegal for them to date.

Re:Wait, they have the internet in Missouri?

[bws111]

Did you bother to read the actual bill, or just the rantings of some blogger? Nowhere in the bill does it mention Facebook or 'friends'. All it says is that school districts must have a written policy concerning teacher-student and employee-student communications. This policy must include

Appropriate use of electronic media such as text messaging and internet sites for both instructional and personal purposes, with an element concerning use of social networking sites no less stringent than the provisions of subsections 2, 3, and 4 of this section.

No that it does NOT say Facebook is 'banned', only that use of social media must be addressed just like all other electronic media.

When you read subsections 2,3, and 4 you will find that what they are requiring is that any contact between a teacher and a student must be accessible by the student's parent or legal guardian.