Students must not communicate personally with their school teachers via social networking websites

OK, firstly the fact that their conversations can't be checked doesn't mean that what they talk about is immoral but as I said we can never be sure and secondly, as I also said such conversations can only erode the respect and distance that a teacher needs in order to be an authority figure and a mentor for her young charges. I agree that teachers should be close to their students in order to motivate them but I can't see why they should do it privately. "Not all students are considered "children." The legal definition of child generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority(http://en.wikipedia.org...) So,yeah..according to the law all students( except for those who have already turned 18) can be also considered as children. " I was about the same age as some teachers. On top of that, in the state of my residence, dating minors is legal with parents consent." Yes, of course there are some young teacher whose age is close to the one of some of their students, but the topic is not "Does the difference in the age affect a relationship?". We have to do with MINORS and dating minors isn't everywhere legal! Even if a parent approves such a relationship we can not allow it exist between a student and his/her teacher! A teacher must not show more interest in some of her students let alone to have a personal relationship with them. This is why teachers usually avoid teaching in their child's classroom ( I don't say that they don't in some cases this is something inevitable). "There's many things teachers do having little to do with student learning such as throwing parties and hugging students, should we also stop those?" Yeah, but these things are done in a public place and without discrimination. For instance, all teachers are invited to students' parties and they can be seen by everyone. The private communication between a specific teacher and a specific student is something that should be avoided. "it's dangerous to assume they are "victims " I never said that. I never called these students "victims". I used this word just once when I copied a part of an article published in a website to show some real cases of sexual relationships between students and teachers. "The fact that teachers are seen smoking shows they're not suitable for teaching." And what do you propose? To hire a different teacher for each of these lessons? For example, we could hire a special teacher who doesn't smoke to teach students that smoking harms them, a special teacher who doesn't drink to teach students that alcohol harms them etc. Teachers don't do anything bad since what they do is legal but they are obliged to teach students that such habits are not recommended. And the teaching will not be effective if students know that the teachers do the things they tell them not to do as I have already said. Why should students know their teachers' habits? Why should we have this problem? "Teachers should date students so long as the student no longer studies there." Yes, I agree that they can do anything they want as long as the students stops studying there or the teacher stops teaching there. But the personal communication and any personal relationship between a student and his/her teacher is unacceptable!