Moms on Facebook is nothing new. In fact, I recall hearing recently that young adults were leaving the site in droves because it was so invaded by parents. But what about parents being Facebook friends with teachers – their own children’s teachers? Maybe this isn’t a trend sweeping the nation, but it is a disturbing development in my elementary school.

If one of the most basic pieces of parenting advice is “Don’t be your child’s friend,” then how could it be acceptable to friend their teacher? Especially if your child is actually in their class? Is this part of helicopter parenting? Or just the age-old attempt to curry favor with the person in charge of your child’s academic career?

In my school, I find it reflective of the overall lack of boundaries. Parents are too chatty with teachers; teachers are too chatty with each other. Everyone is saying things they probably should not. Things that are confidential (a child’s behavior problem), things that are inappropriate (gossiping about other parents), things that just do not belong in a conversation between a parent and a teacher.

As far as I knew, there were periodic parent-teacher conferences, and you hoped never to hear from the teacher in between. You certainly did not comment on their status or try to beat their score in Scramble or Bejeweled Blitz. A Facebook page is so personal. The quizzes people take, the videos they post from YouTube, the photos they share – it is a window into someone’s world. Call me old-fashioned, but I just don’t think it’s a window parents should be looking into.

I understand the allure. I have even been tempted myself. My daughter currently has the same first-grade teacher that my son did. This woman is fantastic: the kids love her, parents find her wonderfully approachable and she runs a great classroom. She even seems like she would be a blast to have a drink with. I know she is on Facebook because I have heard about other moms who are friends with her there. Part of me would love to get to know her better, but more of me thinks it is too weird. Definitely in the TMI category (too much information).

It was one thing when I would notice a teacher’s name on a forwarded email joke from another mom (although that startled me as well). Sharing a laugh seems acceptable in the land of parent-teacher relations. But friending them on Facebook just seems to cross a line. Maybe I am stuck in the past, holding teachers on a pedestal and viewing them as somehow set apart and not as three-dimensional humans. Maybe it is healthy for parents and teachers to interact on this new level. I remain unconvinced, so for now, my friend list will not include any teachers from my school district.

Michelle Levine ponders suburban clichés and more at Cupcakes Are Evil.