Teachers can still engage in private conversations with their students on Facebook and other social networking services, thanks to a MIssouri judge. The judge issued a ruling today that noted that a law prohibiting such practices could have drastic implications for free speech, so he has put it on hold until February.

The law states that teachers would not be allowed to use non-work-related sites to contact current or former students under the age of 18 via private means, such as messages on Facebook or direct messages on Twitter. Under the legislation, public discussion, like wall posts, would be acceptable.

Teachers’ groups initially supported the provision, but the Missouri State Teachers Association has since challenged it, noting it would violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The organization said that social networks have become a popular medium for student-teacher interaction.

The law was strictly worded enough that it would technically be illegal for a mother or father who was a teacher to direct-message their own child. However, if the law were to go into effect, the “non-work-related” provision means that teachers could still carry out private conversations, so long as it was through a channel approved by the school.

The Missouri General Assembly does not reconvene until January. When it does, Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem said that a hearing would be held to determine whether the private-messaging law should be permanently blocked.