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03:28 pm August 2, 2011 Twitter (27) Facebook (685) E-mail Share Stumble Upon Reddit Linkedin Digg What is this? Share Print Comments (146) Recommend (32)   by Eyder Peralta August 2, 2011 Listen to the Story All Things Considered [3 min 38 sec] Add to Playlist Download Transcript   A law signed into law last month in Missouri is making waves nationally, this week. A small part of the wide-ranging SB54, makes it illegal for teachers to be "friends" with students on any social networking site that allows private communication. That means teachers and students can't be friends on Facebook or can't follow each other on Twitter for example. All Things Considered's Michele Norris spoke to an eighth grade teacher from Joplin, Mo., who opposes the new law. Randy Turner, who teaches English, said as teachers your job is to reach out to students and that means going where they are and now a days students have shunned e-mail and are using social networking sites to communicate. The larger bill, explained Turner, was passed with great support because it was intended to protect children from predatory teachers. It was intended, he said, to stop what is termed "passing the trash," which is when teachers who have had inappropriate contact with students resign quietly only to be hired by another school. But Turner argues instead of protecting children, this new law may be hurting them. "We may be preventing them from talking to the very people who may be able to help," he said. In a story last month, Springfield's KSPR talked to a teacher from Nixa, Mo. Band Director Craig Finger said he has no problem with the law, because the lines between teacher and student are clear to him. "... If you ask any one of these kids it's very clear we're not friends," Finger said. "We don't friend any students. If you haven't graduated we're not friends. I think the only people I've friended under 18 are my niece and nephew." But Turner said that in the aftermath of the massive Joplin tornado that killed more than 100, Facebook proved instrumental. He was able to locate 20 students to find out they were OK, because he was friends with them on Facebook. Another teacher, said Turner, who monitors the chatter on Facebook was able to stop a fig

, and it provides a safe learning environment that is constantly monitored by teachers and administrators. It also provides teachers and students with specific ePals email so students do not need school or personal email addresses. The ePals email is part of the login system, can be fully monitored at all times by the teacher, and is how students and teachers communicate with their fellow ePals.

She introduces the students, who start off quietly, a little wary of this newfangled sort of author visit. But soon they’re taking turns sharing their favorite characters and we forget the computers that connect us. It feels like we’re all in the same room, and the questions fly across the miles.

The video connection allows for some show and tell. I hold up the leaf collection from my school that sparked the idea for the book. The students also get a sneak peak at the outline I’m working on for my new project, a middle-grade mystery. I love the way they talk not just to me but to one another, building on ideas like readers do in any book club discussion.

Almost all authors have an online presence with Web sites and email links, so it’s often possible to send a quick note to inquire.

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Empathy is most often defined by the metaphors of 'standing in someone else's shoes' or 'seeing through someone else's eyes'.