Missouri Makes It Illegal To Be Facebook Friends With Teacher

[ShyGuyInChicago]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/internet/social-networking/facebook/missouri-makes-it-illegal-to-be-facebook-friends-with-teacher/

Starting August 28, being Facebook friends with your teacher is illegal in the state of Missouri. The bill covers social networking in general, so not only can you not associate with your teacher on Facebook, you’ll also have to stay away on Twitter, MySpace, or any other social networking site you might use.The idea behind the rule is that it will help better define teacher-student boundaries. Teachers ARE allowed to create a page in Facebook Pages; however, to interact with students on a slightly more personal level.
The rule is certainly an interesting one. On a basic level it makes sense that students and teachers shouldn’t be Facebook friends; however, I seriously doubt that social networks are responsible for any of the inappropriate relationships that the state is trying avoid. I think those types of bad relationships will more than likely show up anyway, regardless of whether or not the two can have a poke fight on the internet.
While Facebook wasn’t around in my grammar school days, I was “friends” with several people who also happened to be teachers. It will be interesting to see how Missouri enforces the law.
What do you think about the state telling teachers and students to not be friends? Will it prevent any issues?
[via Mashable]

[dead]

This is fucking funny.

[ShatteredWings]

What about former teachers?

[Sogeking]

^^ to add to that. What about former students?

[Skyhawk]

I agree with dead. Glad I dont live in Missouri... *shifty eyes*

[ShatteredWings]

^^ to add to that. What about former students?

Kinda the same thing. Former teacher around here means a teacher you had but graduated from :P

[SosbanFach]

^^ to add to that. What about former students?

I would have thought that would be fine; once the student no longer is a student, that law would surely be irrelevant. The 'What about former teachers?' question is less clear, however.

[Sogeking]

Kinda the same thing. Former teacher around here means a teacher you had but graduated from :P

Oh right :P.I thought you mean't people who are no longer teachers. Sorry for the misunderstanding.:whoops:

[Bougainvillea]

In my old school district, you weren't allowed to add teachers until you graduate, or if the the teacher leaves the school district.

[Awesome]

If your over the age of 18, you can be friends with your former teachers. I know my some of my teachers will only add students once they graduate

[CantLiveWithoutYou]

Oh yeah like they're going to arrest kids for adding a teacher as a friend to get help with their homework.

[BuryYourFlame]

It's been the law for a while where I am, although I know a fair few people who are friends with teachers on Facebook, even some that text teachers. I find it strange that my friends would text teachers, considering the consequences to the teacher if they were found out. I have one ex-teacher as a friend on Facebook, and that's it.

[TheMatrix]

Although it's a good law to prevent teachers letting social life interfere with school life, would it really be that bad to be able to ask your teacher about sum number 5 on page 221 of your maths homework?
No.

[Nookie813]

idiodic and retarded

[IAMWILL]

At my school you're not allowed to be friends with the teachers until either you graduate or they leave this school. I understand the law but I think making it a law is a bit extreme.

[DoctorWho]

Hahaha

[Upintheair]

I honestly dont think this will change anything. Having an "innapropriate" relationship with a teacher doesnt come from facebook

[Sith Lord 13]

Oh yeah like they're going to arrest kids for adding a teacher as a friend to get help with their homework.

More likely that the teacher would be the one in trouble.


Anyway, it's a stupid idea, it won't do anything that they think it will.

[UnknownError]

Lol, I didnt know teachers that even accept. My friends added all the teachers they could find and one of them got accepted by a school office staff and thats it. :P

[Amnesiac]

I really don't see the point of having a state law on this kind of thing. If they're trying to prevent students and teachers from interacting on a "personal level," they forget that students and teachers meet at school on a daily basis, and there are other technologies that don't fall into the definition of "social networking," like e-mail and texting.

What a waste of time.

[Neptune]

Good luck enforcing that. That's just a waste of a time and resources.

[huginnmuninn]

i dont know if its a law but at my school the teachers arent supposed to be facebook friends with the students. but the students usually dont care and try to add their favorite teachers anyway. but after the students graduate some of the cooler teachers usually accept them as friends

[Infidelitas]

Where I live, its not illegal, but it is highly frowned upon by students as 'teacher ass kissing.'

[Donkey]

I'm pretty sure there are more indirect laws in England that forbid it anyway, or where teachers could get into trouble with law authorities for it. Few teachers would act so unprofessionally anyway

[DerBear]

I dont think it is illegal here but i think people at the school would make it a punishable offense sort of things

why make it illegal why not just make it up to the school

[Modus Operandi]

Meh. Most of the kids in my school's band program are friends with the director. He's cool, and really doesn't care what people post. It's also pretty useful that we can ask him questions over there as needed. I suppose I see where there could be issues, but as long as the private lives of students don't merge with the school lives, I think it's fine.

[Sith Lord 13]

I'm pretty sure there are more indirect laws in England that forbid it anyway, or where teachers could get into trouble with law authorities for it. Few teachers would act so unprofessionally anyway

How is it unprofessional?

[Perfectly Flawed]

As a resident of Missouri I believe I can say this isn't a big deal. We can friend teachers after graduation and we have websites to communicate with the teachers.

[Giles]

I'm pretty sure there are more indirect laws in England that forbid it anyway, or where teachers could get into trouble with law authorities for it. Few teachers would act so unprofessionally anyway

I'm not sure if they're actual laws but there's definitely pressure (in my school any way) put on the teachers not to accept friend requests from people they don't know, simply because it could be students.

[Roses_Are_Yellow]

Either way teachers aren't supposed to friend there students until they're 18...it's like one of those un said things. All though some teachers are friends with their students online (but it's kinda creepy 0.o)

Especially when the teacher comments (Hott!) on a picture...I've seen it before on this girls picture, and the girl r was no longer his student...

[OptimusPrime]

If I lived there I wouldn't even add a teacher anyway. Only teachers I've got are two and they're from Primary and me and them have been close since school. It feels weird adding anyone from course/school as they can call you out on stuff in front of everyone.

[AlmostHomeless]

I don't get this. I go to a private school. Lots of my friends (and me as well) are friends with our teachers on facebook. We use facebook as a communication tool and to post updates to the entire class. (We also occasionally compete with our history teacher for facebook game high scores.) We also have out teachers' home phone and sometimes cell phone numbers so we can call if we need help.

Private school sure is different...