AIBU to challenge OUT OF CONTROL parents group chat?

We have this too we’ve got a whole year group chat and individual class chats. If you’re the class rep then you’ll also have a group chat for that. It’s exhausting. I volunteered to be class rep for my son and daughter one year so had a total of 6 chats dedicated to school stuff. In recent years I’ve just not accepted the request to join the class chats (our classes change every year) I’m still the the general whole year chats, there isn’t much goes on in there maybe the odd ‘is Emily’s mum/dad here’ for new parents to school that’s trying to arrange a play date/party.

id not run off to the school (ours e courages the use of it!) just quietly leave the group or send it to archive and forget about it until you need it. There is only so many pictures of lost property one needs to see 😂

We get messages at 6am sometimes on ours, doesn’t bother me. My phone is on silent in the morning, doesn’t wake me, bother me, interrupt what I’m doing. I choose to read it or ignore it. Why does it bother you so much at what time they send messages? Just read it when it’s sent or read it when you choose too, no biggie.

When we had a similarly crazy one the reps created a new info only group which only they could post to. They liked the power of that. The other group remained for people who wanted to chat. You could suggest that?

Ours is more of a chat group rather than sharing school information - those messages get sent by the school using other platforms. The WhatsApp group then might share these as a reminder or discuss them e.g. what time do you think the doors open for the performance? Will we definitely get tickets for an evening show? This is just parents discussion. As ours are at the end of primary the group has also been chat based on leavers stuff which is not organised by the school (the party) and also discussion of what school people are going to and comparing details like who will be in who's tutor group.

This is why it's not for the school to police.
I expect any information you actually require is delivered by email or via class dojo so if the WhatsApp isn't for you then just leave.

I see what’s app as much more personal than email tbh

But that's a you thing, so I'm not sure why you'd expect 89 other people to alter their behaviour around that?

When I was heading the PA for a year group and working and had three kids, I did my PA stuff when I could fit it in and would very much not have appreciated your input.

I would suggest you wait until after the baby and offer to take over running the PA so you can manage the chat to your specifications.

I achieve those kind of chats for a while. If I feel better after 3 months and don’t need to go on it then I’d leave it.

Just mute the chat.

Just set do not disturb times on your phone. I’m currently overseas so of course I message when I’m awake but other people might not be.It’s up to individuals to set their own quiet time surely??? Otherwise his would it work. My DS is also on holiday overseas so messages in her time zone too.

There’s a way to stop the messages popping up on your screen, google will tell you how, I need to go onto the app to see if I have any notifications

YANBU to be annoyed if people are posting the same thing repeatedly, or irrelevant things.

YABU re the timings of messages. You need to learn how to use your phone settings to avoid being disturbed.

This
don’t get yourself worked up over something so ridiculously
pick your battles

Why don’t YOU ask people on the group chat to stop spamming. Why on earth would you expect teachers to do that? It’s nothing to do with them and they already have enough ridiculous requests which are way out of their remit of educating children.

Only thing unreasonable is being in groups like this-either leave, or keep muted all the time. If someone really needs you, they can contact you directly. I once unmuted all my groups (off sick and bored) and it's actually scary, as you say, how it was constant pinging all day and night. We all managed before we had them, no problem!

Suggest that important information or announcements are pinned or written @ all or something.

Many parents will be feeling the same and will jump on to say it's a good idea.

Then just calmly ignore everything in the chat apart from a quick perusal of the important announcements.

It does seem like you are way too annoyed about a WhatsApp group though. Just mute it. And if you miss something, apologise and say you had to mute the chat because it was too hectic for you and disturbing you at antisocial times.

You are a grown up I presume so mute your chat like the rest of us do and stop bloody whinging about it.

Just mute it and skim through as and when … it’s not that hard 🙄

Just mute it.

And if your kids are small brace yourself for what’s ahead: I have multiple what’s app groups for the kids activities and have to weed through 100’s of Johnny has lost his water bottle, have you seen it … no… not here… what colour is it …. In order to pull out the important match time information.

I just meant that the school is not appropriate to contact, OP originally stated she was considering contacting the school. If OP feels she needs to make suggestions, I was just suggesting the group admin/PTA members/reps are more appropriate. Up to them how they respond, it they choose to.

The thing is maybe the other parent only sits down to catch up on life admin first thing or last thing. Maybe at 7am they are full on with lunch boxes, chivving kids to get dressed, eat breakfast, clean teeth etc

Can't you just have a silent time on your phone for no notifixations? Mine is set 10 pm to 7 am so this sort of c**p doesn't annoy me

what on earth do you want the poor admin to do?

Pin a message saying "attention everyone, because SySy7 requested it, none of the 89 people on this group are allowed to send message outside a 9am to 7pm window? Too bad if it's very inconvenient for you, if you are working and with your kids during these hours, one person gets to dictate rules on how people use whatsapp"

Can you picture it? 😂

Mute the chat, check in at a time that suits you. Not everyone keeps to the same timetable.

I don't think I've ever read anything so entitled honestly. Fgs just be an adult and use your phone/messages when it works for you.

Are you seriously thinking about asking a school/moderator to ask an entire 90 other adults to only be allowed to send a message at specific times that are convenient to you? Despite when it may be convenient for them? Do you realise how you're coming across?

I do all my admin/emails early morning 5.30-6.30. I work 50hrs per week, have 2 young children, a disabled parent and kids activities most nights. I crawl into bed and am asleep by about 9ish most nights but wouldn't dream of asking people not to use any of the group chats after 9!

I would contact the 'admins' of the group chat directly with your suggestions. When you click on the bit that shows you who is in the chat it says who the admins are. It's nothing to do with the school so would not be contacting them.

Alternatively, archive the group and just read it now and again to catch up without receiving all the notifications.

I used to to mist pta admin either midnight as everyone was in bed, id completed household stuff and I could finally do pta crap that I needed to do

I don't think there is any way to administrate a whatsapp group, that's up to you to do it from your end.

Honestly I'd just leave. I was never any part of a school whatsapp, school sent out emails and letters for important stuff, which I'm sure your school does as well.