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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want my address to be private?

55 replies

ooerrmissus · 08/05/2014 18:10

At school pick up this afternoon, went to speak to DS1s teacher about a minor matter. As I approached the classroom I noticed a display of work on the wall. It was a creative writing piece in which the children had written a letter to a fictional character to ask them not to do something.

All the letters had the children's home address at the top.

I appreciate the kids need to learn how to set out a letter with address etc, but AIBU to think it is inappropriate for the letters to be put on the wall for all and sundry to see? I don't imagine there will be any potential stalkers or armed robbers prowling the corridors looking for the information but even so!

OP posts:
usuallysuspect · 08/05/2014 18:14

What are you scared of?

struggling100 · 08/05/2014 18:14

I am a bit surprised that the school has done this - it would be a very fortunate year not to have at least one child in it with family issues that made it important to keep such details private (sadly). I would maybe point out this welfare problem to the teachers, rather than making the issue about my own address being 'private', as it is potentially much more pressing that people aren't put in danger than that preferences about being the equivalent of ex-directory are upheld.

Original poster
ooerrmissus · 08/05/2014 18:15

Not scared of anything, just think it's my business where I live and no-one elses.

Would you put your address on a wall for everyone else to see?

OP posts:
CoilRegret · 08/05/2014 18:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ICanSeeTheSun · 08/05/2014 18:17

Yanbu, if there was a problem at school such as 1 child hit another instead of the parent going to the school about it, they could come and invade the home life.

THEBESTPIGEVER · 08/05/2014 18:17

Surely only parents/teachers/children go into the school. Surely you have a class address list for your class. Surely everyone that can look at this piece of work has access to your address anyway....? (Except the school cleaner... but they're probably too busy to look at work on the walls and are hopefully an honest person). I would stop worrying. Honest.

usuallysuspect · 08/05/2014 18:18

I think most of my childrens classmates knew where I lived anyway.

THEBESTPIGEVER · 08/05/2014 18:19

Just read other posts... at our school, we have a class address list, with all parents details on. We all have access to this and the other classes lists in our year. It's useful for knowing where someone lives, contacting them etc. I thought all schools would do this....

Morgause · 08/05/2014 18:20

Mine's in the phone book - not much different from a wall.

Original poster
ooerrmissus · 08/05/2014 18:20

struggling100That's what I thought- it's a very small year, I don't think that's the case with anyone but surely that would be the main concern?
CoilRegret Lol! Irrelevant in our case as it's independent

OP posts:
Original poster
ooerrmissus · 08/05/2014 18:21

oh bum that was supposed to be bold not strikethrough!

OP posts:
TangerineSushi · 08/05/2014 18:21

We have a class address list so everyone knows where everyone lives. However, you have the right to opt out of being included on it. It probably isn't correct procedure for them to use people's addresses without permission so not wrong to mention it if you feel strongly. Not something that would bother me though.

Original poster
ooerrmissus · 08/05/2014 18:24

yes, we were supposed to have a class email list but the parent who was putting it together never finished the job! But then it wouldn't be distributed to everyone, would it?

Ok maybe IABU. Off for some vino then. Cheers!

OP posts:
FatalCabbage · 08/05/2014 18:25

Wow - no we don't have a class list with numbers or addresses, nor would I have given consent to be on such a list!

I think it's a little careless, but perhaps protected children don't get their work on the wall?

I have a similar question in my mind about our school newsletter which is fully Googleable. Children's surnames aren't given, but even so ... I'm just not sure.

I wonder if it does constitute a data protection breach? If the children are too young to be able to know their own addresses, so they've been looked up, the address is being used other than in accordance with the conditions under which it was provided. Hmm.

What's wrong with 1 High Street, Anytown, or using the school's street address and postcode, anyway?

MaryShelley · 08/05/2014 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ooerrmissus · 08/05/2014 18:32

MaryShelley yes it is a serious post, there was no call to be rude. I felt it wasn't appropriate but wondered if I was over-reacting. I asked for opinions and have got some responses. It seems I may have been unreasonable. Fine.

OP posts:
MaryShelley · 08/05/2014 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MuttonCadet · 08/05/2014 19:04

Is your address not quite as select as perhaps some of the other ones displayed? Wink

Donttrustyoursil · 08/05/2014 19:21

YANBU I wouldn't like it either

Original poster
ooerrmissus · 08/05/2014 19:36

Oh no Mutton, we are in a very des res areaGrin

I don't know why it made me feel uncomfortable. It just did. I'm glad some people agreed with me but since there is a difference of opinion on this ill refrain from going in with all guns blazing tomorrow.

Might move house though....

OP posts:
MuttonCadet · 08/05/2014 19:37

You could freak them out and claim to be part of the witness protection programme......

Original poster
ooerrmissus · 08/05/2014 19:39

Ooh good idea Grin would I have to wear a disguise? I quite fancy that

OP posts:
MuttonCadet · 08/05/2014 19:42

Pretend to be American and say the NSA will be in touch, how's your Texan accent? Grin

Bowlersarm · 08/05/2014 19:43

Why wouldn't you want your DSes class mates to know where their friend lives? Or the people who work in the school, or the parents of his classmates. What have I missed?

I am puzzled. Seriously. Puzzled.

Picturesinthefirelight · 08/05/2014 19:45

We don't have a class address list.

One parent works with mentally ill patients & has been followed around in town by patients

Some parents ate teachers & don't want parents of pupils knowing their address.

Who knows if there are any DV issues.

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