AIbu to tell the school

[Hadleybeans]

My 12 year old son told me a few weeks ago that another boy in his class asked his ‘girlfriend’ - a 12 year old girl in the same class - to send him a topless picture of herself. She did and he showed the picture to his friends. The girl found out and was distraught. The boy apologised (he said he was promised ten pounds by another boy in his class if he did it, as if that was an excuse!).

The other kids in the class seem to think it was her fault for sending the photo and the offending boys are still sought after.

I know that the school doesn’t know and nor does the girl’s mum. I am grateful my son tells me things and don’t want to threaten that but...

I should tell the school, shouldn't I?

Yes tell the school. You don't even have to tell your son it was you.

Yes. Poor girl

Another reason to tell the school is that, with education and a bollocking it might prevent these kids from doing something even more damaging in future. Topless pic posted this time, could be full-on sex next.

Yes, you absolutely should.

That poor girl.

Please tell, the girl in question may need support.

Please speak to the school.

Definitely tell the school. They can further educate- perhaps they’ll run an assembly.

Yes. As much as anything the poor girl needs support to get through this.

I know someone whose son did similar (only he sent a dic pic to a willing girlfriend) and their son is now on the sex offenders register. Teens just do not realise how seriously it is taken. I would not want the police involved in case this was to happen but they need educating before it escalates.

There's no dilemma here at all. Of course you must tell the school.

I've already spoken to my 9 and 10 year olds about this sort of stuff. They need to know from day one that it's illegal. Said in an age appropriate way but it was a very clear cut "never ever take or share pictures of people's bottoms, private parts or boobs (including your own). People that do get in BIG trouble".

Tell the school.

Yes. Why wouldn’t you?

Absolutely
Tell the school, this is a safeguarding issue and they will have a person responsible and a protocol to follow

Yes definitely report it. It's very scary. I caught my DDs of 10 and 7 taking selfies of their private parts and then texting them. Thankfully they only texted them from iPhone to iPad and to the ASDA thread (I order deliveries online and of course you can't text that number. I was absolutely horrified. Thankfully I caught them before they managed to text them to a genuine phone contact.

It turned into a good learning experience for them and they know it's illegal.

FFS, of course you need to tell the school!

Yes. I teach in a secondary school and local police have come into assemblies to talk to pupils about this. The girl has committed a crime and anyone forwarding it would also. Not enough children know it is an offence.

Yup. It's safeguarding.

And if your DS is upset, you point out that he's the only one who has done the right thing - telling an adult who knows it's illegal, abusive and must be reported. Nobody is going to know you reported it, they'll be more interested in dealing with it than revealing their source.

Yes, you must tell them.

Yes, you must report this.

Yes, please report this.