Missouri Repeals Law Banning Teacher-Student Facebook Friendship

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Remember back in July when the state of Missouri enacted legislation making Facebook friendship between teachers and students — as well as any sort of social networking — illegal?

After teachers complained the ban was unconstitutional and interfered with education, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon altered the state policy in a new bill signed Friday. The initial state senate bill, which has come to be known as the “Facebook Law,” is no longer in effect, reports The Kansas City Star.

Instead, all Missouri school districts will have until March 2012 to create their own social networking policies.

The Missouri State Teachers Association, concerned about First Amendment rights, had sued the state over the law, claiming it was too vague. They were awarded an injunction Aug. 26, two days before the law was supposed to go into effect.

Do you think social networks can facilitate education? Or was Missouri right to ban online networking between teachers and students? Let us know in the comments.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, RichVintage

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