MO bans teachers from friending students on Facebook

[jgreiner]

This is an explicit violation of the freedom of speech AND of association.

While I UNDERSTAND why they are doing this (far too many teachers having sex with students), you can't trample the constitution to achieve it.

 

[slackerisme]

Good, they are not their friends. They are authority figures. They are paid by the community to teach not coddle.

 

[Bunnykid68]

To say they are there to teach is questionable sometimes. Maybe to indoctrinate?

 

[Bill of Rights]

Gee, what's next?

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

Good, they are not their friends. They are authority figures. They are paid by the community to teach not coddle.

+1 I have no issues with this at all, in fact I would find it kind of disturbing if my child was on facebook with their teacher, at least while they are their teacher.

I know plenty of people my age (30) who are friends with their old teachers, no issues with that. But there is an professional relations with a teacher/student, not a friendly one.

 

[snowrs]

We can not pick andchoose which parts of the constitution we support, it is an all or nothing proposition, So while I feel it's a bad idea for teachers to friend students, I have to fully support their right to do so.

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

I believe that it's FINE for the school to set a policy (i.e. don't do this or we'll fire you...) They after all, are the employer. That said, it's wrong for the .gov to do it.

Hmmmm... maybe the .gov shouldn't be their employer????

Private/Home schools - novel concept, that.....

 

[snowrs]

I believe that it's FINE for the school to set a policy (i.e. don't do this or we'll fire you...) They after all, are the employer. That said, it's wrong for the .gov to do it.

Hmmmm... maybe the .gov shouldn't be their employer????

Private/Home schools - novel concept, that.....

Should your boss be able to tell you you can't own a firearm? Who people socialize with on their own time should not be regulated by thier jobs.

 

[Bunnykid68]

Should your boss be able to tell you you can't own a firearm? Who people socialize with on their own time should not be regulated by thier jobs.

Only regulated by the PARENTS. If certain teachers wanted to friend my kids on a site like that I would be ok with it. I get to choose. My kids have no rights other than what I grant them

 

[eldirector]

So, if one of your students also attends your church, then the State can prevent you from communicating with them via Facebook?

They can't prevent you from using email, SMS, telephone, postcards, or (gasp!) face-to-face, so how can they prevent Facebook?

I would prefer that a teacher "friends" my kid. I'd rather they have several "trusted" adult friends in addition to their peers. Helps keep tabs on them!

Side note: if you don't trust your kid's teacher, and the school/State doesn't trust their employees, then you have problems much larger than Facebook.

 

[hooky]

Only regulated by the PARENTS. If certain teachers wanted to friend my kids on a site like that I would be ok with it. I get to choose. My kids have no rights other than what I grant them

 

[rjstew317]

people should learn to set their profiles to "private". then your employer can't see who you are friends with.

 

[rjstew317]

and don't "friend" your employer! they really don't need to know what you do in your personal life.

 

[rambone]

Good, they are not their friends. They are authority figures. They are paid by the community to teach not coddle.

+1 I have no issues with this at all, in fact I would find it kind of disturbing if my child was on facebook with their teacher, at least while they are their teacher.

Guys.. there are more amendments in the constitution besides the 2nd.

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

We can not pick andchoose which parts of the constitution we support, it is an all or nothing proposition, So while I feel it's a bad idea for teachers to friend students, I have to fully support their right to do so.

They are not doing anything against the constitution. The teachers have every legal right to friend a child on facebook, that has not changed. They will not face prosecution. They just may lose their job. Nowhere in the constitution does it mention that you have the right to keep your job.

This is not a constitutional issue. It is an issue of what is an appropriate relationship of a person in power to have with a minor.

Should your boss be able to tell you you can't own a firearm? Who people socialize with on their own time should not be regulated by thier jobs.

Not even close to the same, not in the same stratosphere.

Your situation is talking about co-workers who are both adults discussing their own personal hobbies. The fact that one is the boss is more or less irrelevant since the activity the employee engages in has nothing to do with business what so ever. The boss certianly can tell the employee he cannot carry at work.

The situation in this article is an adult in a place of power, not only in power, but one that is in a position to influence the child. I would not allow my kid to be facebook friends with his teacher, its just inappropriate imo.

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

Guys.. there are more amendments in the constitution besides the 2nd.

Again, not a free speech issue. They have the legal right to talk with the kids. Nowhere does it say in the constitution that you get to keep your job. They are different.

 

[snowrs]

So a teenager goes to church or is on the same shooting team as one of their teachers. You contend that the place of employment has the right to restrict an adult from fraternizing with someone based on a business relationship.

 

[snowrs]

Again, not a free speech issue. They have the legal right to talk with the kids. Nowhere does it say in the constitution that you get to keep your job. They are different.

So do you also believe that it would be OK for your employer to tell you you can not be a Christian or own a weapon? This follows the same logic

 

[Kitty]

Ok, so scout masters should friend their scouts. Coaches - nope. No music teachers and students - can we go on. How about new age restrictions on who can talk to who?

Jiminy Cricket - PARENTS need to watch and monitor their kids. "For the children" = uninvolved/lazy parents. Something inappropriate - fire the SOB but that kids can't be friends/talk to/ask advice or opinions from those they look up to because "someone" might do/say "something". Good gravy!

 

[96firephoenix]

I wasn't friends with any of my teachers on facebook until after I graduated. I was friends with the campus minister on facebook, but there was a much more personal relationship there than with any teachers.