The state of Virginia is currently debating rules and recommendations when it comes to digital communications between students and teachers. The state's Board of Education is voting on a policy that would restrict teacher-student interaction via social networks and text messages.
According to the policy, "Teachers and other school employees must decline or ignore friend requests or other private invitations from students; should an emergency force a teacher to use "a personal communications device or account to contact an individual student," that interaction must be reported." The Virginia State Board of Education took up the issue after past incidents of sexual relationships between teachers and students.
ReadWriteWeb reports, "One teacher has argued electronic communications needn't be singled out, and that administrators should trust teachers to follow the professional code of conduct regardless of where their interactions with students take place." Some educators are concerned the recommendations may make it more difficult to use technology in class.
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