Teachers and Students Don't Mix On Facebook

Technology, morals, and law seem to have trouble moving at the same speed. I agree, a number of improper student-teacher relationships have taken place in our society; but these were happening before Facebook. I am a teacher and have friended past students and teachers. I think this sort of thing needs to be looked at more clearly; youth need 'trusted adults' to confide in, and social media - for better or for worse - is here to stay.

I am a high school senior and I am friends with most of my teachers on Facebook, the only exceptions being ones that do not have Facebooks. I keep it so they cannot see most of my personal posts, but when I post something I think they might be interested in, I make it so they can see it. Most of my teachers do not post very often on Facebook and the ones that do are never posting inappropriate things. In fact, it's usually all interesting news articles and scientific videos (he's the science teacher). I think this bill is taking it too far, because honestly, I don't feel like it negatively affects either the student or the teacher. Besides, it is easy to catch the immoral teachers with Facebook because it is so public. Anyway, I think the bill is somewhat silly, although the idea behind it is a noble one. Hopefully they can find a better way to approach it.

As a school district employee, I would never friend a current student on FB... too many possibilities for misunderstandings and subsequent lawsuits. (It's hard to work for a school these days, where every little thing you say and do is under scrutiny. The most innocuous comments can be taken the wrong way and giving a student a hug can get you investigated for harassment.) But I see no problem with teachers keeping in touch with students who have graduated. I am lucky enough to enjoy FB friendships with my own high school teachers, and even if one of them did start thinking foolishly about me - I'm 40, I can handle it. The law is obviously aimed at younger folks, but what about situations like mine? Not very well thought out, in my opinion.

This is ridiculous, especially for former students! If I was a parent, I would have no problem with a teacher using Facebook to communicate with my child. I might ask to see a message or two, but that's it. How is it wrong that I, a freshman in college, have high school teachers as Facebook friends? People should be concerned with the ridiculous practice of tracking and low test scores, not this.

I really don't understand about"former students"-----so that means that even if a student has graduated from High School, they can never say "hello" to their former teacher; a teacher that maybe was very helpful to them during their school years. What if they wnat to talk to a teacher about the wonderful college they are now attending??????? I can understand about current students, but not students that no longer attend school

I am a university student who is quite well versed in the use of technology and facebook in particular. I am on a political riding association in Canada and we have had similar discussions re: policy and practices concerning the use of FB. It sometimes shocks me when I realize the amount of fear facebook causes in older generations due to a lack of familiarity and understanding. People experience the generation gap like they do a different culture. The fear it causes leads to wide sweeping bans such as the one proposed here.

People must recognize that just because they are older and in positions of authority they may not be the experts on all issues, especially re: technology they do not use regularly or possess subtle knowledge of. I would suggest a joint action research project which involves older policy makers with politically minded (university or college) students. This would lead to the development of more appropriate policy and get more young people involved in democracy as they could actually make a difference.

This is silly. Kids are more protected from inappropriate conduct on facebook, where there is a record on their end that they can show to parents/the police than in a secluded classroom where real sexual harassment happens. What's next? Sending our kids to school in protective bubbles or video classrooms that eliminate any contact with non-guardian adults?

I think this law should only apply until after high school. After high school, a kid is usually legal and communications between teachers and themselves shouldn't be a problem. I think that during the school years, a lot of schools use systems of communications that allow for correspondence between teachers and students and vice versa within school jurisdiction and the like. I will agree that this law seems a little extreme, though.

stupid ban. a teacher can easily say "oh, just send me an email." bam. there's your loophole.

With cell phones and private email accounts, what is this actually stopping?

This is ridiculous. I'm friends with many former high school teachers on facebook and I am glad to see what they are doing and to read their comments on my page. I am very close to my former teachers and don't see any reason why I can't be friends with them on facebook - especially since I'm over 18 and in college now.

So "Private Communication" meaning email? So I can't email my teacher for help or the homework?

I hope they Know this isn't Gonna Stop any thing.. Infact it may hurt the students that need the extra help with Homework.. Did they think of all the pros and cons of this bill?

A few of my friends have heard that this could end up becoming a Nation Wide Law I hope not I have a few teachers on my facebook. If they make this a law in IL I will fight it along with ever one else. Its not only wrong I think its unconstional

I have plenty of ex teachers on my facebook page as friends and I ADORE being able to keep in touch and learn about alumni events that the groups I was a part of are having because of that. And while I was in school I've had teachers who told me they weren't comfortable adding me but that they'd be fine with it once I graduated - there are teachers who don't appreciate the situation it puts them in and that's fine. But the teachers that did feel it was okay I did better in school for it - I could message my teachers a question that perhaps I didn't have time to stay after school to talk about or I wasn't comfortable asking in class. And I did have plenty of teachers who I felt I could confide in them better than anyone else, and even though I'm not a student anymore I would gladly fight this ban if it spreads to my state because I think it's ridiculous. Most kids have their parents added on facebook anyways so if the parent says they dont want the teacher being the kids friend then let them say that but don't force everyone to not be allowed that connection. Especially the former student thing - really? what gives anyone the right to say that a graduated student cannot reconnect with their students - isn't that what alumni groups do all the time? why is it not okay to do on facebook which is easier for many people! I think people need to stop treating facebook as some creepy stalker softporn site and just realize that it's what its supposed to be - SOCIAL NETWORKING. A way to network socially with others of similiar interests or people who have been a part of your life in the past/present.

This is messed up. I would not allow my child to join a social networking site if I was not their "friend" on it and it would make me MORE comfortable if their teacher was also. This way not only could I be sure I knew what their teacher was saying on walls/photos/etc. (if they are a creap they're likely to screw up and post something I can see) and they're not it's another adult eye on my child.

I feel that this law is ridiculously misplaced. Haven't teachers and students been emailing questions and communication for years? I'm 25 and emailed correspondence not just with college professors, but many high school teachers as well. Why shouldn't there be yet another way to communicate, one that many students are more comfortable with than even email? I feel it is very important for teachers to continue using all the latest communications, including Facebook and Twitter, in order to maintain a comfortable place and method of communication with students. If a teacher these days told his or her students that there was to be no electronic communication whatsoever (only face to face meetings or written), parents would be in outrage most likely angry because the teacher was 'limiting access' to himself or herself to the students and not allowing enough communication. Hardly anyone could object to email, it should be the same with Facebook, where there is an electronic record of all communication and posting, allowing for actual creepy teachers to be found using creepy correspondence. Personally, non electronic using teachers seem more creepy, using non electronic methods so they don't leave a paper trail. Not saying that teachers have nothing to hide, but let's be realistic, the privacy settings these days can keep anyone from seeing anything, from specific photos to entire albums, wall, even friends. Until some offence has been committed, let's not stand in the way of progress, and please, let all forms of communication be generally allowed, we don't need any students falling through the cracks because they don't feel comfortable talking face to face with a teacher. Am I the only one that thinks Facebook and email, when used appropriately, are effective and trace-able. Let people who use them inappropriately be punished, but don't unnecessarily punish everybody else. What about an 'abuse awareness' law, that would require teachers to outline what is 'abusive or inappropriate' at the beginning of the school year, that everyone was required to follow?

I am friends with former teachers and coaches on Facebook, and consider it a valuable tool that allows me to keep in contact with them, despite breaking and losing phones as well as changing phone numbers on both sides. From my experience, it is not hard to see what is 'inappropriate' as far as student-teacher communications are concerned. Just because teachers have made abusive phone calls and emails in the past was not enough to warrant teachers being restricted from using phone and email to communicate with students. Why should it be any different with Facebook or Twitter?

Now that's just taking it too far. Teachers aren't all creepy scum, and those that are can easily be tracked with things like social media. It's honestly a good way to keep track of the creeps while still allowing mentors to mentor in a way outside a classroom. That's infringing on freedom of speech to say the least.

banning current students, ok its pushing it, but I can understand. however, after they've graduated, what is the issue!? Especially if said students are adults and want to reconnect with an old teacher, what is the problem? too much controlling going on

I am a high school teacher and I only allow former students who have graduated to be facebook friends. I can not tell you how many of these students contact me for advice concerning college, book recommendations or just to even tell me about their success since graduating. I see it as encouraging former students to be life-long learners and I am humbled and honored that they come to me for educational advice even after they have graduated. Facebook makes the opportunity to do so, easily accesible...I only wish more of my own former teachers were on facebook.