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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is unacceptable

164 replies

Sisterelephant · 02/01/2014 22:00

This lady updates the FB page of our local children's centre. She asked me a few months ago to like the page as she was now taking over it.

There are daily updates on frankly what I think is unprofessional and should be checked before going live.

Things such as using the word 'grate' for great, putting xxxxxxx at the end of status' and general terrible grammar.

Now, I'm not perfect, my grammar is rubbish but I would get a second opinion if I had a similar job.

AIBU to think its not acceptable?

I'm too chicken to complain but want to have a moan, yes I have too much time on my hands

OP posts:
VampyreofTimeandMemory · 02/01/2014 23:49

i just think it's not worth insulting someone for in the great scheme of things. in this situation, her updates should be checked by someone else.

Original poster
Sisterelephant · 02/01/2014 23:51

afromum

you are spot on.

nanny0gg
I agree! I used to write monthly newsletters in a previous job, my message was always good but I had difficulties making it read well, so would spend ages re-wording, and got help from my boss. I used to get lots of corrections scribbles but the more I did it the less scribbles I got.

Maybe I should think about having a quiet word . . .

OP posts:
BuffyxSummers · 02/01/2014 23:51

It does give off the impression of being a bit unprofessional if the public page of the children's centre doesn't have the statuses at least proof read by someone who is good with basic grammar and spelling. That could put people off. Some will think if the centre isn't bothered about taking the time to do statuses on FB properly, what else might they not bother with.

Neverending2012 · 02/01/2014 23:51

Unlike it, don't read it and get something else to do with your time.

afromom · 02/01/2014 23:56

I would sisterelephant, but not to her personally, to someone higher up. It's not really her fault if she is being allowed to continue on without anyone checking it, she may not realise there is anything wrong. But the centre SLT should be on top of this and checking things regularly. (Now I'm off to check the Facebook pages of my centres ??)!

Do they have a comments sheet that you could complete, or a parents forum that you could attend to feedback at?

Original poster
Sisterelephant · 03/01/2014 00:05

I guess in practice its not that easy, its an open plan reception and she is ways very welcoming and friendly, I could never embarrass her!

They have a centre manager that I could e-mail, I'd have to email from a friends account as my email address is my full name!

I'm sure if you liked the page you would definitely know it!!

OP posts:
afromom · 03/01/2014 00:15

Email could work, or if they ever ask for feedback on the centre? We do this routinely throughout the year, normally at the end of term. Although that may get back directly to her as its often admin/reception that get the lovely job of collating feedback.

It's really difficult and would not be worth making it difficult for yourself. Someone at the centre should be checking it, if they are not, or are overlooking it, then they will get pulled up on it eventually.

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 03/01/2014 09:43

So she's the receptionist - which means all those comments about what she's teaching the children are irrelevant.

She doesn't teach the children.

The centre, as the OP has said, is excellent and provides a high level of care for the children.

I'm sure as hell that the manager of the centre is able to read the Facebook updates.

I repeat - it is not your business to go sticking your oar in. All it does is serve to make you feel superior to some poor woman who doesn't live up to your standards.

If someone uses a Facebook page as a benchmark for assessing the quality of childcare that a centre provides then that's their issue. It's not yours so don't try and make out that you are only airing your views for the sake of the centre, they don't seem at all bothered.

It's fine to be a pedant. It's not find when you use that as an excuse to be mean to someone and report them to their superiors.

For all you know, she has been told to make the Facebook page accessible and friendly, hence the kisses and informal tone.

My conscience would never allow me to report someone based on what they wrote on Facebook. No matter what excuses you make and how you dress it up, it's downright mean.

You can think it's unprofessional all you like, but it has not affected you or the care your kids receive, so why not just leave it as your opinion and keep that opinion to yourself?

Original poster
Sisterelephant · 03/01/2014 09:45

They do have a parent forum but its a meeting, so again it'll be to out in the open, so e-mail may better.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sisterelephant · 03/01/2014 09:49

Jheez thecliff are you the receptionist?

It's not personal its professional, I don't see how mis-spelling and other grammar errors (she's not using slang) can make a page more accessible??

OP posts:
THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 03/01/2014 09:51

Sorry, I don't see how it's professional when you don't work there and the service you receive isn't affected one iota by it.

Looks mighty personal to me.

mrsjay · 03/01/2014 09:53

maybe the centre is running their facebook to be friendly and not professional lots of the users might be put off with messages that are too (cant even thing of the word) Professional and uptight ? , maybe she just cant spell, I think you are being a bit snooty about ths and maybe unfriend the page

PedlarsSpanner · 03/01/2014 09:58

I'm with Cliff

OP YABU

The grammatical errors made by the receptionist, who is highly unlikely to be doubling up as a playworker, are irrelevant to the care and support given by the CC

Nanny0gg · 03/01/2014 09:58

Proper spelling and grammar doesn't mean it has to be formal.

Why perpetuate mistakes?

I repeat - there is nothing snooty or snobbish about the correct use of spelling and grammar!

thankfeckitschrismas · 03/01/2014 09:59

I agree with CLIFF.

WooWooOwl · 03/01/2014 10:02

I don't see how it could be taken as mean if OP pointed out something that is undoubtably giving the children centre a negative public image.

Any of us would expect to be told if we were doing something badly in our job, whether we are well up the pay scale or on NMW. Why is this any different?

afromom · 03/01/2014 10:04

Thecliff a large part of the core purpose for children's centres is that service users feel able to comment on the service and play a part in continual development and improvement. Part of this is feeling able to speak your mind and be part of the governance of the centre. This can be done in many ways, through becoming a board member, attending the parent forum, completing surveys/questionnaires and informal reporting of concerns and suggestions. Any good centre would be open to a service user making a comment about any area of their service, and would look into this in a sensitive way. I'm sure they would thank the OP for her concern, and the matter could be resolved sensitively and easily by someone taking the time to regularly check the Facebook site.

'Not her business', on the contrary, the effective and efficient running of a sure start centre, funded by public money, for the good of the public, is (and should be) everyone's business!

I don't see why you think this is the OP making a personal attack against the lady in question. She is merely concerned about the service that she uses and likes, and has made it quite clear that she does not want to embarrass the lady in any way.

thankfeckitschrismas · 03/01/2014 10:11

Nannyogg. It's not about being snobbish.

I'm a member of various local parenting groups and tbh that's pretty much part for the course

Mussled for muzzled
Shoking for shocking
Arnt for aren't
Dinna for dinner
There for their

Loads more. Now I'm always posting too soon and autocorrect changes some stuff. But this is what some mums are like irl.

MrsDeVere · 03/01/2014 10:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 03/01/2014 10:12

She asked if she was being unreasonable. I said I thought she was.

If you don't want to hear other opinions then don't ask for them. If you just want to hear that you are right then you should say so in the OP.

I have given my opinion, the OP will clearly ignore it. I feel sorry for the receptionist who will most probably be taken off the role of updating the Facebook page so all the pedant parents who think that good spelling and grammar by the receptionist will ensure their children are looked after better somehow, can feel smugly satisfied.

afromom · 03/01/2014 10:13

True pedlars, but would you send your child to a school whose website had spelling and grammar mistakes in it's prospectus, or on letters received home in book bags that had continual errors? I know I wouldn't, and can't see how this situation is any different. It would massively annoy me every time I read the Facebook page if it was badly written. Why should the OP unlike the page and miss out on important information, when the issue could be easily resolved by someone checking what goes on it?

BoffinMum · 03/01/2014 10:16

If it's in the name of the Children's Centre then the spelling and grammar need to be correct.

This is a publicly funded service and presumably the FB page is the marketing arm aimed at pleasing OFSTED by assisting recruitment statistics.

Therefore normal public sector standards for communication must apply.

ChatNicknameUnavailable · 03/01/2014 10:20

Bad spelling and grammar is not a crime. It IS very unprofessional for any 'business' to not spell check their public literature/emails/advertising though.

To me, it implies lack of care and thought. If I was looking for childcare, would I approach one that had already displayed lack of care and thought? No.

A friendly word/email will only help them in the long run as there are lots of potential clients or WILL put off.

MrsDeVere · 03/01/2014 10:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PedlarsSpanner · 03/01/2014 10:20

afromum, again yes, not a problem, I know from experience that letters, flyers, yes even the website, are sent out/created by office staff, again, they are not the teaching staff. My own DC have had a stupendously good education from their primary school despite the above non-problems, arf.