COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers backed away Friday from a pending state law banning private chats between teachers and students on social media sites such as Facebook. A judge had blocked the law at the request of the Missouri State Teachers Association, saying it had a chilling affect on free speech rights. The Missouri Legislature originally approved the ban on teacher-student communications in response to cases around the country where social media contact led to sexual or other inappropriate relationships. Gov. Jay Nixon and teachers asked that the new law be repealed, saying teachers’ on-line contact with students was strictly for educational purposes. The new law was changed to order each school district to set electronic media policies to prevent improper communications between staff members and students.
Monday, Sept. 26, 4 p.m.
