Chesapeake teachers warned about social networking – The Virginian

CHESAPEAKE

Teachers are being warned not to communicate with their students through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Such communication can give the appearance of impropriety, according to a new sexual misconduct policy examined Monday night by Chesapeake’s School Board.

In lieu of those programs, teachers are advised to limit their electronic communication with students to email and other programs offered by the school division.

“We can monitor emails, but with social networks like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, we can’t monitor that,” said division spokesman Tom Cupitt.

Last winter, the state Board of Education considered a policy that would have strongly advised teachers to avoid social networking, texting and online gaming with students.

Then, after organizations of teachers and superintendents argued the policy would be too restrictive, the board settled on a softer version and directed divisions to write their own rules.

Chesapeake’s version simply says school employees shouldn’t do it. There are no consequences for those who ignore the policy, Cupitt said. It’s just a set of guidelines.

The policy also warns teachers about other behaviors often associated with inappropriate conduct that can create an appearance of impropriety. The list includes visiting a student’s home or driving a student without informing the student’s parents; having physical contact with a student that could be reasonably interpreted as sexual harassment; and participating in a flirtatious, romantic or sexual relationship with a student.

Board members voted 8-0, with one member absent and little discussion, to give the policy preliminary approval. They’ll vote on final approval at another meeting.

Heather Foxwell, president of the Chesapeake Education Association, said the policy probably won’t stop teachers who use social networking sites to reach their students. In fact, the association supports the practice – so long as it’s used professionally.

“It does serve a place when your students are on social media,” Foxwell said. “We should use every avenue we have to communicate appropriately with our students.”

Elisabeth Hulette, (757) 222-5216, elisabeth.hulette@pilotonline.com

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Judge: Missouri’s ‘Facebook Law’ Violates Teachers’ Free Speech Rights

A state judge in Missouri has struck down a new law in that state that would have restricted teachers’ ability to use social networking sites.

The law, which aimed to protect students from sex abuse, prohibited teachers from having accounts on Facebook or other social networking sites that allow “exclusive access” with a student.

Last Monday, the Missouri Teachers Association filed suit to have the statute declared unconstitutional. The teachers’ group argued that the law violates their First Amendment free speech rights. The teacher leading the protests, Christina Thomas, argued that the law’s provisions were so broad as to make it illegal for her to communicate with her own child through social sites.

Late last week, a judge agreed. Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem issued an injunction banning the state from enforcing the new law for at least 180 days.

“The breadth of the prohibition is staggering,” Beetem wrote.

“Social networking is extensively used by educators,” he continued, adding that the law is so far-reaching that it “clearly prohibits communications between family members and their teacher parents using these types of sites.”

It isn’t surprising that the law was struck down, given just how broad it was — and how little sense it made. Rather than protecting students, the law would cut off a means of communication for no reason other than a fear of technology. After all, teachers can talk to students in person every day of the school year.

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