By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-936145.mp3
Dallas, TX – A new ethics rule aims to stop Texas teachers from using social media to entice students into sex. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports the State Board of Educator Certification update prohibits teachers from inappropriate social media contacts.
The change was requested by the Texas Education Agency. The TEA said some teachers have been sending students thousands of texts. And while the message itself may seem innocent, the large volume of messages and the times they were sent suggest something else.
The TEA says those messages indicate the sender was "grooming" that student for a future sexual relationship.
Prohibited types of communication include cell phone, instant & text messaging, emails, blogs and other social networking methods. Numerous factors would then be considered before determining if the communication crossed the line of prohibited behavior.