Is this Headteacher being unreasonable?

[user1471507501]

I work in a school as a TA. The parents of the school have closed group Facebook pages for most year groups. Inevitably, they sometimes have a moan about the school on them. I happen to know that our Head has spies on some of these pages that keep him updated about any discontent. He will even say in the staff room "You'll never believe what so and so said on Facebook." I feel what he is doing is inappropriate. What do others think?

Depends what it is tbh is it so and so are shagging in the stationary cupboard or is it the school is a shambles the teachings a disgrace or is it the head teacher stinks sort of thing

He is behaving no differently to most employers. Where I work I can be disciplined/sacked if I put anything on social media that is derogatory or negative about the firm. Why should schools be different?

A lot of people seem a bit confused about this, perhaps because of fines, but schools are not in any way in authority over parents, let alone in some kind of employer-type relationship.

(If you have a head teacher who seems to think they are your boss, I suggest you set them straight or change schools)

It's inappropriate. If he goes round gossiping what sort of example is he expecting his staff to follow

technicolour

Apparently a local school took legal action against the people who run the group (who are a charity!) after an angry parent had criticised the school on their page.

the school are within their rights to prevent libellous or derogatory posts about the school or staff.

Just because it's a closed group doesn't make it 'private' it's not like hacking someone's emails or phone.

So no, I don't think he is being unreasonable.

Maybe law should be compulsory now in this age of Facebook and Twitter.

The law around social media and the internet is a pretty grey area due to it developing faster than legislation and common law.

I know of a Head who pulls parents into school when he finds out (via the same methods as in your OP) and confronts partners with screenshots. He's been even known to threaten legal action.

The law around social media and the internet is a pretty grey area due to it developing faster than legislation and common law.

True, but everyone should be taught how to have a basic grasp on stuff like the act of defamation, and libel and slander and the differences between, for example.

Facebook is public domain stuff. It might as well be in a newspaper. Who on earth would post something then have a moan that someone specific had heard about it?
Children are taught at primary school to not post anything they wouldn't shout in a room full of everyone they have ever (and will ever) know. How can adults not grasp that?

Confronts *parents

I find most people who post stuff about schools and teachers etc on Facebook and other social media are just shit stirrers and usually lack the balls to front up to the school directly on their issues. Half the time the issues are total non issues as well. Just gossip and other nastiness.

I hope you are not a member of this closed Facebook page OP. You risk losing your job if you are.

In my last school I became aware that a TA in another school had written derogatory and untrue remarks about our school on Facebook - a friend screenshotted them for me. Our Head contacted her Head and she was sacked. It is unprofessional to take part in this behaviour and you will be disciplined if you are part of the group and it comes to light.

Just saying.

LuluJakey: Facebook is disgusting and dangerous

What an idiotic comment.

Have my first

Why on earth have these parents got these closed groups? It sounds horrible. A safe space for bitching about the school and the teachers behind their backs. Awful people.

I think people are being unreasonable to take Facebook so seriously. Of course the headteacher isn't being unreasonable - he's commenting on something in the public domain. Nothing said on Facebook is private, even if it's in a private group.

We and schools invest huge time and effort trying to teach children everything they post on social media is effectively in the public domain - why oh why have parents not cottoned on yet 😡

emmy It is. It causes more issues of bullying than anything else schools deal with. And it is not just teenagers using it to bully, it is parents- they join n fights on it, threaten, use appalling language and show us exactly why their children are in such a mess. DH spent Friday dealing with exactly such an incident which ended in a parent being arrested for abusive, threatening behaviour after he went to another parents' hou after a Facebook tirade and caused a huge scene witnessed by neighbours. All ovet two 12 year old girls who had fallen out and been vile about each other n Facebook the previous night.

We get parents whining on on Facebook about uniform - they don't see why their children can't wear trainers, they are not buying school trousers and we are unreasonable to ask them to. Recently there was one who had spent £300 on a prom dress and got angry because we would not pay for a new sweatshirt.mShe put it all over the school Facebook and her own.

I could show you pages of the vilest racist aguse and sexist abuse and homophobic abuse and threats all written by parents on Facebook about other children who had upset their precious children.

Children are targetted on it and sent lnks to ISIS related sites. I dealt with 26 in a year last year- children befriended by 'children' who started talking about football, music , clothes and then began sending links of girls in brief tshirts and shorts, carrying guns and then links to real beheadings, children shoiting prisoners, people thrown off buildings, drugged and set on fire alive until they burned to death. We informed PREVENT every time. All Facebook

Then there is the over-sharing by people of every detail of boring lives to make them seem more interesting. They should get out and live them instead.

Disgusting. It should be banned. It endourages everything that is weak and awful about our society.