Should teachers and students be Facebook friends?

NEW YORK (AP) - Should students and teachers ever be friends on Facebook?

The nation's largest school system is preparing to release social media guidelines for teachers. It's feeding a discussion about how to balance risks of inappropriate contact with social media benefits.

Three city school staffers were fired in 2010 over inappropriate dealings with students on Facebook. Investigators said one teacher friended several female students and wrote comments like "this is sexy" under their photos.

Some teachers say social media can be a vital resource if used right. One New York City teacher says "the old methods of engaging our students and our parents are starting to die."

Districts in Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts and Missouri have also wrestled with the issue.