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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Teacher with public Facebook page and very political views. Would you find this offensive?

135 replies

Yellowbowlbanana · 30/03/2021 22:05

My dd came home from school today and showed me a Facebook page belonging to one of her teachers. His posts were there for all to see although comments had been disabled. His personal information was not visible either.

His page was basically a homage to the Conservative party but at the expense of others with differing views. Everyone who supports labour or is a liberal is left-wing trash/Marxist/communist. He shares conspiracy theories that China imported the Covid variant because we were getting on top of the vaccine. He makes fun of Prince Harry asking if he's started lactating in a thinly veiled attempt to question his masculinity. He calls anyone who voted for Scottish independence an anglophobic dimwit and a bigot.
I have no problem with people sharing their political opinion but I really hate the need to squash others when doing so. I am sure that he is not sharing these views with his students but as they are all able to see them they are all clearly aware.
I think he is a very clever man but he is a shit teacher for my dd and I really don't like him. He was completely negligent in the first lockdown to the point that I made a formal complaint against him. I don't know whether this is clouding my viewpoint or whether this is an actual issue.
What do you think?
YANBU - this is not acceptable
YABU - this is perfectly fine

OP posts:
user1471519931 · 30/03/2021 22:12

I would flag the is discreetly to the headteacher. You did nothing wrong, you weren't snooping, your child came home and showed it to you...

Wellpark · 30/03/2021 22:12

It's not appropriate for it to be viewable by the pupils. They are not supposed to know what their teachers' political views are. Not professional!

DimidDavilby · 30/03/2021 22:14

I doubt he is a very clever man.

He should have his Facebook locked down.

MadMadMadamMim · 30/03/2021 22:15

It is part of teachers' professional standards that their SM accounts should be private. Certainly students should not be able to access them.

If this is the case it needs reporting to the HT with a formal complaint.

He's an utter dick, if this is true.

HotPenguin · 30/03/2021 22:17

I was expecting to disagree with you, but on the contrary, what you are describing is more than just political views. Vote conservative, I love Boris etc is fine in my book. The comments about Prince Harry however are awful and I agree not appropriate for a teacher to make in public.

StoneofDestiny · 30/03/2021 22:18

He is an unprofessional halfwit. Flag it up with Headteacher

Pollaidh · 30/03/2021 22:18

This isn't professional and his pupils shouldn't be able to see his social media. I'd report to the HT.

PferdeMerde · 30/03/2021 22:21

Mind your own business

SnackSizeRaisin · 30/03/2021 22:22

Teachers are not supposed to let their political views be known to students. It's unprofessional. He sounds pretty thick as well, between the China thing and the lack of privacy on his SM.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 30/03/2021 22:23

@madmadmadammim

"It is part of teachers' professional standards that their SM accounts should be private. Certainly students should not be able to access them."

The National Education Union's model policy doesn't suggest this.

MichelleScarn · 30/03/2021 22:24

So is it definitely his actual page and not a daft one someone's set up to get him into trouble? I cannot imagine any teacher that would be so foolish.

MinnieMous3 · 30/03/2021 22:25

Just message him and tell him to hide his SM better. No need to bring in the thought police.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 30/03/2021 22:26

@SnackSizeRaisin

"Teachers are not supposed to let their political views be known to students. It's unprofessional."

So a teacher couldn't be a councillor then?

Sbk28 · 30/03/2021 22:29

@MadMadMadamMim

It is part of teachers' professional standards that their SM accounts should be private. Certainly students should not be able to access them.

If this is the case it needs reporting to the HT with a formal complaint.

He's an utter dick, if this is true.

No it isn't.

You can't simply make things up.

AllTheWayFromLondonDAMN · 30/03/2021 22:30

It’s less that it’s offensive and more that it’s downright stupid in his job to be doing this- if you don’t report his open wide Facebook page to the headteacher someone else will soon. What a twit. Also, with those political views, I doubt he has many mates in the staffroom.

ChloeDecker · 30/03/2021 22:31

It is part of teachers' professional standards that their SM accounts should be private.

This is it true. There is nothing in the professional teaching standards that refers to social media. Absolutely nothing.

Ethics and behaviour yes, but in relation to maintaining the safeguarding of the children and ensuring that personal beliefs do not break the law.

OP, if any of his posts have broken the law, do report.

ChloeDecker · 30/03/2021 22:31

*not true

2bazookas · 30/03/2021 22:35

Formal complaint to school with a link to his account and several choice examples.

Happytobejabbed · 30/03/2021 22:36

The man’s a fool. ( and that’s before we get onto his views)

As a teacher is stupid to leave tour FB open. Its inviting all sorts of trouble and problems.

Pre- retirement we were told/v strongly advised to lock down our accounts + not to make friends with pupils. (Or past ones with younger siblings. And make our Bluetooth invisible.

Pupils could see I had an account but that’s as far as they could go.

MadMadMadamMim · 30/03/2021 22:37

@VeniVidiWeeWee

The NEU policy states employees using social media should conduct themselves with professionalism and respect.

However, this is a teaching union. They don't control what the school/academy writes into their individual policies. They don't have the power. Every school I have ever dealt with states that teachers must keep their SM private.

Are you a teacher? And are you suggesting that this teacher has demonstrated acceptable professional behaviour?

FOJN · 30/03/2021 22:39

Not sure I'd report directly to the HT, I'd be more inclined to inform the teacher directly by asking if they were aware that students could view their SM and pointing out that this isn't very wise and looks unprofessional.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 30/03/2021 22:39

@2bazookas

On what basis would one make a formal complaint?

EnoughnowIthink · 30/03/2021 22:40

Perhaps remind your child that they should have something better to be doing than seeking out teachers on social media?

Cloudyrainsham · 30/03/2021 22:42

Could it be a fake profile set up by one of the kids to get him in trouble?

saraclara · 30/03/2021 22:43

Virtually every school will tell a teacher to a) keep their personal FB page private and b) not mention the school in any of their public posts.

If this page uses a nom de plume, and his own name and personal details aren't evident, then the school can do nothing.

How does your son know that this teacher is behind the anonymised page?

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