Does Texting Jeopardize Student-Teacher Relations?

As technology becomes more prevalent in multiple facets of education, it brings a multitude of significant benefits to teachers and students. However, recently in the state of Louisiana, lawmakers are saying that serious problems can arise because of this. The idea that is causing so much controversy is the issue of technological communication between students and teachers outside of school.

There is a new state law in Louisiana that legally requires teachers to document any kind of contact that they have with students outside of school – for example, texting on a cell phone or even e-mailing. These teachers have to complete an electronic form that states the reason for the contact, even if the contact was initiated by the student.

The Louisiana lawmakers who supported this bill feel that student-teacher interactions via cell phone may begin with innocent or professional intentions, but at the same time, it might have the potential to evolve into something more inappropriate.

However, the law has met some opposition. Louisiana Representative Walker Hines, who voted against the bill, said he did not believe it would stop a teacher from having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Furthermore, he was afraid that the law could have “a major chilling effect” on teachers becoming mentors to students, as it would discourage them from making contact outside of school to even students who may need help, and he thinks that teachers should be allowed to give their cell phone numbers to students.

Much of the debate centered around this law focuses on the benefits that teacher-student technological interactions have. For example, on a field trip, if a teacher gives her students her cell phone number so that in case a student is accidentally separated from the group, they could call or text her to ask for help. Is that a bad thing? One could argue that it is actually a very good idea in that situation.

Some people say that instead of forbidding texting between teachers and students entirely, appropriate interaction should be encouraged, and in many cases, appropriate interaction is the most prevalent behavior. Other criticisms of this law from high school staff, such as athletic coaches, state that they allow players to call or text their personal cell phone numbers if, and only if, they are not going to be at practice or will not make it to the game, or things of that nature – and that, regarding teachers having students’ cell phone numbers, it is much easier to send one text to 15 football players saying that practice is canceled, rather than calling every single one of them at home and delivering the message via their parents.

A similar school policy was enacted in the McKinney Independent School District in Texas, which banned teacher-student communication through text messaging, e-mail, and social-networking Web sites. However, there was a major backlash about the policy from teachers, students and parents alike. Finally, the district changed their policy so that it did not focus on restricting technology, but rather focused on emphasizing a “professional code of ethics.”

It has yet to be seen whether Louisiana, or any other state, will follow the example of the McKinney Independent School District and change their student-teacher policy. In any case, the news about the law in Louisiana touches on the possibility of whether this policy, intended to prevent the actions of those few with less-than-honest intentions, negatively affects all of the teachers and students using texting and technological tools for the right reasons.


About the author: Anushka Mohideen enjoys pina coladas (virgin-style) and walking dogs in the rain.