Should Teachers Be Restricted in Electronic Communication with Their Students?

The state of Missouri is about to start policing teachers and their use of electronic contact with students. The law is aimed at reducing the possibility of teachers having sexual abuse with their students. It prohibits teachers from having students as friends on Facebook. It also sets strict rules on electronic messaging and texting. The law is called the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act.

The State is making school districts establish and enforcing the law. Districts are establishing limitations on what teachers can and can't do with electronic communication. Some districts have already done this.

Some teachers want to know how broad the law is? Can they respond to homework assignments by students. Can they answer other questions that might come up? Does this apply to telephone conversations, too? Can coaches text players about game time and travel changes?

Some teachers feel that this type of discrimination gives them a tag as possible sex predators. In their attempt to reduce sexual abuse by a few, the State is going after all teachers. Teachers feel that this makes their field look too suspect.

The law also applies to former students 19 and under. The law wants to stop all private contact between teachers and students. The law also goes on to say that any type of communication between the two should be viewable by parents and school administration. School districts are now required by law, to report any type of sexual abusive employee.

Some individuals go so far as to say that this is an infringement on their freedom of speech.

The idea behind the law is a good one. However, the shadow that it casts on teachers is another issue in a growing list across the nation. Many states are changing laws regarding teaching, unions, retirement, standards, testing and accountability.

Being a former teacher and still involved in education, I think most teachers would draw a line at what is and isn't acceptable when it comes to social media and electronic communication.

Text messaging has become a new form of communication. It might soon even pass up direct communication as a way of communicating with others. It appears that education might never catch up.