Can you really ban students and teachers from being Facebook friends?
We’ll soon find out in Missouri. According to Missouri Senate Bill 54, which goes into effect on August 28, any social networking – including, but not limited to, Facebook – between teachers and students is prohibited.
It’s all part of an effort to “more clearly define teacher-student boundaries.”
However, KSPR reports that it’s only direct social media contact that’s prohibited by Missouri’s new law; teachers are still allowed to create Facebook pages where all students have direct access to the teacher in a more public setting.
Inappropriate contact between students and teachers is the root of the bill.
Senate Bill 54 is designed to protect children from sexual misconduct by teachers, compelling school districts to adopt written policies between teachers and students on electronic media, social networking and other communication.
In addition to the legalities – Will this new law pass a constitutional test? Who would step forward to challenge it? – you wonder how this will be policed.
Will officials now create Facebook accounts, personal computers or Internet service provider records to see who’s befriending teachers or students?
Inappropriate relationships will be hard to detect, especially since teachers and students engaged in them would likely be discreet anyway. Right?
What do you think? Sound off below.
-With The Hollywood Gossip input
