To report a class group chat.

[LondonElle]

I have two boys one in year 6 of primary school.
One older and in secondary school.
A few parents have taken a immense dislike of the year 6 class teacher they believe she is too strict.
Some of the children are about to take a grammar school test next week and certain parents are up in arms about the teacher upsetting their children by expecting too much off them? Raising her voice and therefore potentially causing them to fail their exams. I personally have no issues with the teacher and didn't when my older son was a pupil there last year.
The messages about this teacher started last week with a lot of parents piling on and ripping her character to shreds.
I thought it would blow over and didn't really want to get involved so kept my head down and didn't comment either way.
However within the last few days the messages have taken quite a nasty turn, one parent in particular seems hell bent on rallying the troops to get this teacher out, she has accused the teacher of gross misconduct, emotional abuse and is threatening legal action.
I wonder whether I should inform the school, I come from a family of teachers so this may be clouding my vision, I am also a member of the pta so have a good relationship with the school?
Should I keep my nose out?

[SnarkyBag]

Chances are the school already know. IME there is always someone quite closely connected to the school on these things

[IsabelGowdie]

I think you should contact the school and tell them. It sounds as if they are working themselves up into a mob- like frenzy.

[AlexaShutUp]

I would discreetly let the school know, yes.

[Birdkin]

The school probably is aware but I think it would be worth contacting the school just in case they aren’t. That poor teacher!

[MrsWooster]

I think I’d say on the WhatsApp group that I felt very uncomfortable with the level of personal abuse towards the teacher and that genuine concerns should be taken to the Head to be explored. If people don’t step down off the drama spiral, I’d then be tempted to approach the head privately and say you have concerns that there’s a mob forming.

[MrsRobbieHart]

Say nothing on the group. Screen shot everything and send to the head.

[CaddieDawg]

I'd deal directly in the group. It may make you unpopular but chances are others feel the same but aren't saying anything either, and this parent is being spurred on thinking they are taking action on behalf of the group and everyone feels the same. They might just need a subtle reality check.

[Eralos]

Yes report it

[WeAllHaveWings]

Sounds awful, I'd screenshot and send to the head teacher.

[Sunstar16]

Screenshot and send to the Head.

[Suetully]

However within the last few days the messages have taken quite a nasty turn, one parent, in particular, seems hell bent on rallying the troops to get this teacher out, she has accused the teacher of gross misconduct, emotional abuse and is threatening legal action

This is pure bullying. I think parents' WhatsApp groups/social media etc like this should be legally banned from naming teachers/slagging them etc. Can you imagine the outrage if a teacher's WhatsApp group was slagging off parents or kids?

[Popfan]

Definitely screen shot and tell the head teacher.

[Flopsie21]

am also a member of the pta so have a good relationship you've outed yourself. Screenshot and report and get this thread removed ASAP @LondonElle @MNHQ

[LondonElle]

I have changed one or two personal facts so I am not too concerned about outing myself .

[SantanaBinLorry]

huh?

[Flopsie21]

@LondonElle it'd essential you report. That poor teacher (even if she is a cow bag with a few students) now will have the majority of her class up in mutiny if the kids know what their parents are feeling and in that situation how can she effectively do her job? It may well then have an impact on your DC. Because if these kids start showing her an attitude in class then behaviour management steps infront of teaching.

[wolfstarling]

Yes I had a similar thing on ours and a couple of the parents in the group were school Governors(not the vocal ones) I said directly to the group to stop and then the group admjn stepped in to stop the abuse. I then left the group.

The school was already aware of the problems as many parents had complained. I felt sorry for the teacher as she was a good teacher.

[Flopsie21]

Raising voice is nothing! Wait untold they go to secondary school 😂

[Suetully]

Raising voice is nothing! Wait untold they go to secondary school

ime majority of times kids say teacher 'shouted' they are lying/exaggerating. Teacher just didn't let kids have their own way or weren't all nicely nice to the/pamper them. The word 'shouting' has lost all meaning.

Parents are very much like lynch mobs in primary schools these days with some having way too much time on their hands and worse is that school leadership pander to the demands of the parents. You need to take everything kids say with a large pinch of salt.

[wolfstarling]

Yes imagine teaching and looking outside the window at pick up time at The Mob.

[likearoomwithoutaroof]

Wow I would hate this. We have a parents WhatsApp group and I feel so lucky, it's only used for 'it is PE day today?' or 'has someone got Xs jumper?' sort of thing. No chat, no silly memes and definitely no personal stuff or chat about teachers etc.

I would discreetly inform the HT. They'd keep your name private but they need to know and address it.

[Summerfun54321]

There’s a big difference between all agreeing and having a moan in a WhatsApp chat to actually making a formal complaint. Chances are the other parents also think the main complainant is batshit crazy but in a WhatsApp group it’s just easy to agree to keep the peace. I would leave the chat and take no further action, if you screenshot and send it to the school you could be making a huge issue out of a situation that might never actually escalate.

[Summerfun54321]

Also, I think it’s a massive breach of trust to send in a screenshot of a private parents only discussion into school. If the parents thought their conversations would be made available directly to the head teacher, chances are they’d have never written them. Just leave the group.

[Suetully]

I would leave the chat and take no further action, if you screenshot and send it to the school you could be making a huge issue out of a situation that might never actually escalate

this, I am a teacher and if I was in this situation I'd rather not know or have my boss know and have a big stressful investigation over it. It will blow over more than likely.

[LondonElle]

There has been a formal comment made the parent has posted her complaint and mentioned on the complaint ( to the head) that a lot of others on the WhatsApp group agree.
She says she is awaiting her response and advising others to email a complaint also.