MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Administrators at a New Hampshire school system are debating new rules for social networking sites like Facebook to make sure there's a clear boundary between teachers and students.
Manchester's school department is taking steps to keep online contact clean.
The review was prompted in part by a situation in nearby Londonderry, where a former high school teacher there, Melinda Dennehy, e-mailed nude pictures of herself to a student last year.
That incident, coupled with the fact that social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace can reveal too much private information, has the school board drafting some new guidelines.
"That is the extreme. What we're concerned about is incidental or casual conversations with friends within their network, and then students may be able to access that page oh my teachers on page what she has a profile opens up areas that could be problematic," Said Manchester Superintendant Thomas Brennan.
Several parents think the measure is necessary.
"A number of incidences have happened in the paper that have proven that this kind of behavior between teachers and students can cross boundaries," said Helen Gilda, a concerned parent.
Many also agree with the superintendant that students don't need to know teachers after school activity.
"Let's say I decide to go out and party with my friends, how does a parent or student look at that?" said Superintendant Brennan.
"They think it's a cool thing to be able to talk to their teachers and see what their teachers are doing on the weekends and stuff, and that's just not any of their business," said Katrina Azagaoh, a student.
"When you have that teacher child relationship, there needs to be that parameter, because there needs to be that amount of respect, and sort of, almost mystery to it," said Michelle Boyd, a parent.
Among the list: they don't want teachers accepting friend requests from students, and warn them not to communicate online in an overly casual way when it comes to e-mails and text messages.
If the proposal passes at the next school board meeting, employees who violate the policy could face discipline or dismissal.
