The Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) has managed to win their first battle in blocking a new law regarding social networking with students. Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem granted MSTA’s request for a preliminary injunction, effective for 180 days. It will expire on February 20, 2012 and will allow a trial before the statute is implemented.

Beetem found that based upon the evidence, teachers in Missouri use social media as one of their primary forms of communication. He stated that the law “clearly prohibits communication between family members and their teacher parents using these types of sites. The Court finds that the statute would have a chilling effect on speech.”

The judge also ordered that under this ruling, teachers cannot be disciplined or suffer adverse consequences for using non-work related social media. “This gives everyone time to debate and discuss the issue to come to a proper resolution rather than rushing to piece together language that doesn’t resolve the concerns of educators or allow time for teacher input,” Gail McCray, MSTA Legal Counsel, said in a statement.

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