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Original poster

School Internet/email use agreement

143 replies

GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 23/01/2017 20:54

My children's school have sent home letters with agreements for both children and their parents to sign. In principal, I am very supportive of their aims, but one clause in the adult agreement does not sit well with me.

'I will support the school's approach to e-Safety and will not upload or add any pictures, video or text that could upset, offend or threaten the safety of any member of the school community'

They are talking about social media and general internet use, not just the school website and internal systems.

Obviously I am not planning a hate-campaign against any of their members of staff Grin - but the way I read that phrase I am basically agreeing never to post anything online, ever. I have no way of second guessing what might offend (reasonably or unreasonably)1000+ people, many of the total strangers to me. I agree with the sentiment wholeheartedly, but feel that actually, within reason I am entitled to express my own views online.

Quite how they intend to police this policy I don't know. Pupils they have more control over, but I am curious what sanctions they propose for adults who sign the agreement and fall foul of the rules??!!

DH thinks I am being silly and should just sign it and send it in. I am sorely tempted to cross through/reword that section before I do.

Am I being precious, and would you all just sign it without batting an eyelid?

OP posts:
HughJarss · 23/01/2017 20:58

I think you're being a bit U. A bit of common sense is in order, here. Don't post anything obviously threatening or offensive. Doesn't seem that tricky to stick to IMO.

Sirzy · 23/01/2017 21:00

I think you are completely overthinking it!

Sounds like a perfectly reasonable expectation to me.

harderandharder2breathe · 23/01/2017 21:01

Yabu

It's not difficult to not post offensive material. Plus if you have decent privacy settings the school shouldn't access things like your fb or twitter where you might rant.

DJBaggySmalls · 23/01/2017 21:02

I would cross out 'upset or offend'.

Original poster
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 23/01/2017 21:04

Hmm. Well perhaps you are right. I just felt that not posting anything 'that could offend any member of the school community' was a bit of a tall order.

I was thinking of something more along the lines 'I will not knowingly post anything that could reasonably offend'...

OP posts:
Hassled · 23/01/2017 21:05

Yes, I'm afraid you might be in danger of being a tad precious :o. Of course they can't really police it - Home School Agreements aren't legally enforceable. But they're looking for a commitment from you that you're generally on their side, that you're going to work with them to provide a good school environment and model good behaviour to your child. It's a statement of intent they want - that you're not going to slag off Mr Bloggs on FB or call his mother a cow. Don't overthink it - and send it back amended and you will forever be "that parent". Support the school or pick a different school.

Suttonmum1 · 23/01/2017 21:05

I have found that if you don't send these things back then often the school does absolutely nothing about it. If this is a primary then the kid signing something is surely completely unenforcable, and how on earth the school thinks they should have any control over you is beyond me.

Secondary, a different matter.

Suttonmum1 · 23/01/2017 21:06

No - be that parent and ignore it.

CatoSoup · 23/01/2017 21:07

I agree, it's stupid wording.

However just laugh at it, sign it, and forget about it Grin

Celaena · 23/01/2017 21:10

I'd ignore it

The school cannot dictate what you do on the Internet (is this on school computers? Or network? Or at home on your personal devices?)

Original poster
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 23/01/2017 21:12

Crikey - Support the school or pick a different school - is taking it a bit far! I did say that I agreed with the sentiment. It is the clumsy wording and what it actually means when you think about it that was bothering me.

Surely as a parent it is better to have two-way communication with a school, I can't just uproot my kids and move school every time there is a small policy that isn't my preference?!

OP posts:
Original poster
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 23/01/2017 21:14

Caelana - they are talking about social media use outside school by parents on personal devices.

OP posts:
Original poster
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 23/01/2017 21:14

I think I like Cato's answer best Grin

OP posts:
FlouncingInAWinterWonderland · 23/01/2017 21:15

I'd insert the word intentionally.

We were asked to sign a similar sort of thing at my younger DC's school recently. 200 signed to say they'd had a copy and would support the school in enforcing the behaviour policy. When I probed they didn't actually have a current one for me to read to agree with.

Celaena · 23/01/2017 21:16

Sorry being thick

Is this your personal facebook account? Or on their one?

Original poster
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 23/01/2017 21:20

Calaena - they are talking about anything a parent posts anywhere online (ever)

OP posts:
Original poster
GiraffesEatStingingNettles · 23/01/2017 21:21

Flouncing - Shock Grin

OP posts:
smilingsarahb · 23/01/2017 21:24

I'd reword it. It's silly wording. It might raise a few eyebrows and draw attention to yourself a bit, but next year the word reasonably might slip in.

MuteButtonisOn · 23/01/2017 21:27

I've never signed these daft meaningless agreements, but that is one I'd not sign, even if I normally did.

user1484226561 · 23/01/2017 21:37

you should be following those guidelines on anything you post in a public enough forum for everyone else in the school community to see.

what you post privately is irrelevant.

I don't think it is asking too much.

HelsBels5000 · 23/01/2017 21:40

Our LA policy forbids any member of staff being connected on social media to any pupils or pupil's family. Pretty tough at our small village primary school when there are several staff who teach their own children, and are therefore friends IRL with the other parents of the children in their classes. We ignore that rule Grin

Mumzypopz · 23/01/2017 21:41

Nothing is private. If someone can screenshot it and send it on, it is not private.

StrartinngfromHere · 23/01/2017 21:42

Glad to see there is someone else who takes a stand on this sort of thing. I had something similar on school trips. Way over the top with a requirement from the school for me to indemnify the school if anything my child did on a school trip caused injury or damage to anyone else or their property.

My view is that (a) they are supervising on the trip not me and (b) they have insurance. It is not that I think my DC is a thug BTW!

I refused to sign. we had a frank exchange of emails. They dropped the point.

Haffiana · 23/01/2017 21:47

I have done the same as Strartinng. Tell the school you do not agree with it and tell them why. It is utter rubbish anyway from a legal point of view - it is actually embarrassing.

Mumzypopz · 23/01/2017 21:54

It's just a deterrent to parents to advise them not to have a go at parents or teachers or discuss other people's kids on the internet. They have no real control over you. The school secretary will just file them away, never to be seen again. If you don't sign or make a fuss, you will be that parent. If you want to be that parent, fine, up to you. But what you are essentially saying is that you want to offend people etc, and that's not a nice person to be.