Missouri Outlaws Student-Teacher Facebook Friendship

Posted on Aug 1, 2011

Flickr / Micah Sittig

A teacher interacts with a student in the classroom.

The state-sponsored war on intimacy, fellowship and private contact continues in Missouri, where Gov. Jay Nixon just signed into law a bill forbidding any direct social networking contact between students and teachers.

Missouri Senate Bill 54 is deigned to prevent children and adults from having sexual relationships. It will no doubt drive an even firmer wedge than already exists in the U.S. between children and their tutors, preventing other socially healthy and perfectly natural affectionate bonds between them, which can be crucial to a child’s development. It’s also likely to discourage American educators, increasing their stress and anxiety by treating them as potential predators. —ARK

The Atlantic Wire:

According to Missouri Senate Bill 54, just signed by state Governor Jay Nixon, any social networking is prohibited between teachers and students. This includes not only Facebook, but any social network “that is exclusive and allows for private communication,” according to ABC News.

How did this measure come about? Mashable notes that “inappropriate contact between students and teachers is at the root of the legislation,” which 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 forms of communication.”

From the bill:

Teachers cannot establish, maintain, or use a work-related website unless it is available to school administrators and the child’s legal custodian, physical custodian, or legal guardian. Teachers also cannot have a nonwork-related website that allows exclusive access with a current or former student.

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