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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Headteacher has posted this to facebook

580 replies

NameChangeAgain111 · 12/05/2020 23:52

The headteacher at my DCs school has posted this to Facebook. He says that social distancing is impossible and unless we would be happy to let our DC play in a supermarket for hours to 'not even think about' bringing them to school. I have 2 expected back on June 1st. AIBU to keep them off after this?

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10222994594279008&id=1403891361

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
TeeniefaeTroon · 13/05/2020 00:02

I can't see the post now.

ssd · 13/05/2020 00:02

Funny how all the negative posts here are written in the same tone, almost as if they are written by the same person.

minettechatouette · 13/05/2020 00:02

I would be reporting this to the governors. His job is to work out how to implement social distancing and keep his staff and pupils safe. Not refuse to engage with this issue of how to educate children safely.

JassyRadlett · 13/05/2020 00:03

I’d be a little bit horrified to find out my child’s school was being led by someone with either a very poor grasp of science and evidence, or was happy to play fast and loose with the truth for rhetorical effect during a pandemic.

SpanishFly · 13/05/2020 00:04

I'm so confused as to why a headteacher would risk posting this on FB?? Even if the sentiments are meant in the right way, surely it's his job to find a way to try to work it all out without chucking his toys out the cot and blurring on FB. I'd get the sack if I bad mouthed my employer publicly like this.
It isnt ideal if schools are reopened. But the country needs to start again soon, otherwise our mental health is going to be a disaster, plus the economy. It all needs to start moving again in some way, and people cannot get back to work if kids are off school with no childcare. I am all for keeping lockdown until it is safe(r), but unfortunately it's not only about that. I've lost someone I care about dearly because of the virus, so i don't say that lightly

Original poster
NameChangeAgain111 · 13/05/2020 00:05

@ZombieFan If you think I'm a troll please report me to Mumsnet I'll send them my kids school reports Hmm

OP posts:
DamnYankee · 13/05/2020 00:05

You don’t think it’s unprofessional for a headteacher to bleat a completely unfounded diatribe all over Facebook actively discouraging parents from sending their children to school?

Damn straight it's unprofessional. And on FB?

Why not call the local media and make a statement live?

Sounds like he is trying to scare parents off.

CSIblonde · 13/05/2020 00:05

He has to follow LEA Policy, unless he has Union backing to flout it, in which case it could get nasty if he refuses or trys to whip & parental support for refusal (like this seems to be doing) & the LEA put their foot down. France are only half filling classrooms, so each child isn't doing a full week, but at least they're distancing in the classroom, even if corridor distancing usually isn't an option.

viewfromthecouch · 13/05/2020 00:05

Good job nurses have not done the same.

Nurses are expected to wearing PPE. Teachers have been told NOT to and won't be provided any.

It's part of nurses' jobs to help sick people get well. That is not what teachers have been trained to do; they've been trained to educated children.

donquixotedelamancha · 13/05/2020 00:06

I would be reporting this to the governors. His job is to work out how to implement social distancing and keep his staff and pupils safe. Not refuse to engage with this issue of how to educate children safely.

Did you not read the post? It was all about the details. What would you report him for?

avroroad · 13/05/2020 00:06

Has it been removed?

Griefmonster · 13/05/2020 00:06

@NameChangeAgain111 if that's your child's HT I would be taking down this thread. A quick Google and I know where he is HT. Are you ok with that level of detail being shared online about where your children go to school? I also think it's a bit nuts for a HT to have such a public message out there. But then he seems to like to publicise himself (nice consultancy sideline going)

Sadie789 · 13/05/2020 00:06

@ssd

Well if he wanted to be open and honest with parents (as opposed to wanting to “go viral and get picked up by the Daily Mail) he should have addressed the parents of the children at his school by email, or - here’s a novel idea - by letter.

Gravitas. A trait clearly missing from today’s senior educators.

LittleBearPad · 13/05/2020 00:07

Well his spelling is a bit ropey. It’s not the best thing he could have done.

TeeniefaeTroon · 13/05/2020 00:08

Did anyone screenshot it?

donquixotedelamancha · 13/05/2020 00:08

He has to follow LEA Policy

Few primarys are in LEAs now. The dismantling of the administrative structure is a large part of why the situation varies so much in different schools and coordination is difficult.

ZombieFan · 13/05/2020 00:09

NameChangeAgain111 I never said you were a troll, I dont think you are a troll. But I do think what the headteacher said is extremely unprofessional.

LittleBearPad · 13/05/2020 00:09

Strange all these head teachers posting on Facebook. A letter or email rather than social media would seem more appropriate.

Appuskidu · 13/05/2020 00:09

www.robpartingtoneducation.com/about

If this is him-he looks like he knows his stuff.

He may well not be the head of an LEA school-as most schools are now academies-and I would imagine his CoG agrees with him on the safety considerations.

Gettingo · 13/05/2020 00:09

Can't he just change the hours? A lot of countries do that. They have morning school 7.30 to 12 30, say, and then another group of children come to afternoon school 1-6. That way he could accommodate all the children within the guidelines.

DamnYankee · 13/05/2020 00:09

If you want to keep your kids home, please do!
It's your right as a parent.
Just don't put this post in your "reasons I should" pile.
I'm sure you have plenty of your own, well-thought out, and reasonable considerations .
He sounds. Just. Weird.

loutypips · 13/05/2020 00:09

It looks like it's been taken down.

DamnYankee · 13/05/2020 00:09

*FB post

nothingcomestonothing · 13/05/2020 00:10

If the head of my DCs school had written that on Facebook I'd be making a formal complaint. I'm a single parent and NHS, I have no option but to send my DC to school (and for that matter, take them to the supermarket if I have to go), the last thing I need is the head implying I don't care as much as he does about my DCs health, and on social media at that. He should get his arse handed to him.

And 'he could save a life with that post', blimey dramatic much? Does he also post on social media about the dangers of car journeys, or skiing holidays, and save lives? both pose more danger to most of us than C19 does.

Oh, and it's 'queueing'. And 'trolley'. Hope he doesn't teach English to year 6 once SATS come back.

donquixotedelamancha · 13/05/2020 00:10

Well if he wanted to be open and honest with parents (as opposed to wanting to “go viral and get picked up by the Daily Mail) he should have addressed the parents of the children at his school by email, or - here’s a novel idea - by letter.

He wasn't communicating officially about his school to his parents, he was giving examples of the problems in a private post.