The people I know in college always add their favorite professors on Facebook, but if they were still in high school and happened to live in Missouri, that would be completely against the law. Granted, it's a little questionable for a teacher and minor-aged student to be friends on the internet, but do you guys think it should be illegal?
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I'm a teacher, although for a nonprofit, not a high school, but most of my students are street children who are high school aged. I'm Facebook friends with any of them who have Facebook. It's a good way for me to extend my reach as a role model outside of the classroom. And other than parents, teachers are usually among the largest adult influences on kids' lives. I can see how Facebook friendships could be used for abuse, but that doesn't mean it should be illegal. Make inappropriate communications illegal, sure. But don't ban Facebook friendships.
Do I really need them to dictate more?
Adults can do as they please, it is up to the parents to follow closely, or give them guidelines to follow, when they are using social media.
As a junior high school teacher, I would never entertain the idea of giving access by my students to my Facebook account. One picture, or comment taken in the wrong context, is not worth a chance I could face a reprimand by the divisional administration, or losing my job.
I have my own friends and would not turn to my students in that role.
However, I feel facebook is a very useful method for communicating, especially with large groups of people (like a class!). And I feel that by being facebook friends with their students, teachers make their relationships more public.
It should be up to parents and teachers if they want to take that risk.
There are lots of other apps that allow to you address and interact with groups of students.
I work in a hotel and we have a very strict 'no friends' policy w/our guests. We are not allowed to friend a guest on Facebook past/present-non negotiable. It serves as a barrier between us and the guest for both parties protection.
I understand the idea of wanting to be a role model but also what about the adult jokes/commentary my friends and I will produce-sort of takes away from your ability to partake in those since you'll be busy making sure your content is kid friendly.
When I train new employees, I don't accept any friend requests until after training is finished. It's not appropriate between adults in those circumstances, and it's certainly not appropriate between teachers and students.
They're just going to use google+ or any other social media (or any other method of communication) in their back anyway.
On the other hand, whether the law is struck down or not is probably gonna depend on other factors besides student safety. For example, it will probably be struck down based on 1A free speech rights or the right to practice a profession (i.e., the right to teach).
See also: http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2011/08/12/student-teacher-facebook-ban-raises-constitutional-concerns-2/