Should Students and Teachers be 'Friends' Outside the Classroom?

While most teachers would never consider being ‘friends’ with their students in the traditional sense, spending time together outside of school and sharing personal information, many are ‘friends’ with their students on social media sites such as Facebook, an issue which has started a nationwide debate, should they or shouldn’t they?

It seems School Districts are divided; while some have policies limiting or even banning Facebook interaction some embrace it as a part of their communication.  Teachers are divided as well, with many choosing not to ‘friend’ students while others ‘friend’ whole classes.

The problem seems to be that every solution is subjective; someone is deciding where the line is between ‘appropriate’ and ‘inappropriate’, something that has a different definition for everyone.  What one student or parent might find offensive another might find harmless, making it hard to institute standardized policies everyone will agree on, and follow, and there are few things teenagers love more than pushing their boundaries.

So, what do you think, should teachers and students be Facebook friends?