To report a class group chat.

[LondonElle]

I have two boys one in year 6 of primary school.
One older and in secondary school.
A few parents have taken a immense dislike of the year 6 class teacher they believe she is too strict.
Some of the children are about to take a grammar school test next week and certain parents are up in arms about the teacher upsetting their children by expecting too much off them? Raising her voice and therefore potentially causing them to fail their exams. I personally have no issues with the teacher and didn't when my older son was a pupil there last year.
The messages about this teacher started last week with a lot of parents piling on and ripping her character to shreds.
I thought it would blow over and didn't really want to get involved so kept my head down and didn't comment either way.
However within the last few days the messages have taken quite a nasty turn, one parent in particular seems hell bent on rallying the troops to get this teacher out, she has accused the teacher of gross misconduct, emotional abuse and is threatening legal action.
I wonder whether I should inform the school, I come from a family of teachers so this may be clouding my vision, I am also a member of the pta so have a good relationship with the school?
Should I keep my nose out?

Are we bringing up our children to call out bullies amongst their friends or just walk away?

Has anyone ever read their school code of conduct policy, that also relates to parents and their use of social media with respect to school?

Strict teacher? we need them yes I would quietly talk to the school leadership. People get themselves in a frenzy on these groups and it can get out of hand.

I think getting nasty or personal isn’t nice. I totally agree that some schools get silly over year six. There is a reason we have some of the most unhappy and stressed kids in the world. It rarely comes from just the year 6 teacher though, it’s normally an overly ofsted focused headteacher. So if I was unhappy with the level of pressure I’d go directly to them.

Why must everything be “reported”? Are you 12??

Some parents have a problem with a teacher, they are talking about it and have complained. If you don’t want to hear it, leave the group.

Your experience of the teacher is irrelevant. DD had a P7 teacher who some parents raved about, and I never had a problem with her, but I know full well there were a large group of children who really suffered because of her, one of whom was a good friend of DDs. If you were an NT, bright, well behaved child, this teacher was fine. She was incredibly poor at dealing with the kids who were less able or had discipline issues, or ASD.

@BoredZelda a school local to me had a parent WhatsApp group witch hunting a SEN child, trying to get that child out of the school because the other parents didn't want a child like that in their class. Do you think a parent should have reported that chat to school or just let the parents carry on with their bully behaviour?

Tbh toomuchlaundry that's a very different situation.

If course discrimination should be flagged to the relevant authorities.

I think class parents chat is not really private. It's open to all the parents, there maybe the parents who do not share the same opinions. So if you want to bitch about teacher and keep it secret, they should really do it among close friends, not on whole class chat group.
It's just nasty.
If the are unhappy about the teacher, they should just complain to school individually. Slagging a teacher off on not so private chat group is just bullying.

Just saw your update LondonElle.

I would leave the group tbh, it sounds vile, and let the school deal with the complaint.

[quote toomuchlaundry]@BoredZelda a school local to me had a parent WhatsApp group witch hunting a SEN child, trying to get that child out of the school because the other parents didn't want a child like that in their class. Do you think a parent should have reported that chat to school or just let the parents carry on with their bully behaviour?[/quote]
Good point, and it is the same thing. There is no way of knowing if the parents have a valid point with the teacher and the teacher may also be the bully here and need standing up to, but there is a right and wrong way to deal with it. Online bitching is the wrong way. The head can only deal with legitimate complaints in front of him/her. A statement "other people agree with me" from one single complaining parent is not helpful.

@christinarossetti19 it's still bullying though. What if a group of parents just didn't like a family/child and were being horrible about them on a parent group chat, would that be okay?

If as a parent you were monitoring a group chat on your child's phone and they were all being horrible about another child, would you not report that to school so children could be reminded about being respectful and not bullying.

Schools this year will be doing much more in PHSE lessons to remind children to be kind and respectful of others and to call out their friends if they see them bullying others. Pity adults can't follow this respectful behaviour

Leave the group... I left my mine it was meant to be away for the mums to keep in touch and up to date with things. It turned in to a platform for bitching and moaning

Someone will of been sending screenshots since the first bad word. There is always always one parent who jumps at the chance to dish the dirt.

In our school the head would call the offending parent in for a meeting, say it’s not appropriate end of the meeting. Parent would then bitch about said snitch and a lot of other parents on the playground then not WhatsApp would agree with snitched on parent that what’s said on WhatsApp or whatever has f all to do with the head just because a parent doesn’t like a teacher and that the snitch will just be blocked out of chats in future.

It’s pointless. Either ignore or remove yourself.

@LondonElle

There has been a formal comment made the parent has posted her complaint and mentioned on the complaint ( to the head) that a lot of others on the WhatsApp group agree. She says she is awaiting her response and advising others to email a complaint also.

On the face of it, it sounds horrible.

I'm glad there was no WhatsApp when mine was at school.

@toomuchlaundry Nope. Wouldn't be "reporting" that group chat either. Did you think just because "won't somebody think of the chiiildren" it would somehow be a different issue?

In both scenarios, it will come to the attention of the school soon enough through the proper channels. Even if someone does run of telling tales, the school won't do anything until the parents approach them. All that will happen is, you'll be known as someone who can't be trusted.

Screen shot and email all to the school. I cant stand parents who bitch online yet do nothing in RL, bloody keyboard warriors

@BoredZelda no I am just thinking that we should be bringing up our children to have respect for others and not sit on social media bullying/bitching about other members of their classroom/peer group. To call out others who do that. So when they grow up they will treat everyone with respect.

Seems sad that our attitude to mums bitching about a teacher is to just walk away. And if we do something about it we are a snitch. What example are we showing our children?

@boredzelda have you ever been bullied by a group online? Because there are a lot of people who have been bullied online and spoken about how it made them feel and the detrimental effect it had on their lives. To suddenly read what people have been writing about you (or your dc) for months without you realising would be worse. You may feel differently about calling it out after it happens to you.

Screenshot and report.

I would tell the group that they were disgusting bullies and what would they think of someone was saying these things about them.
I would point out in the real world things ain t cosy and their kids are being pulled up when needed. And they should be ashamed of themselves for what they are trying to do to a successful tea

Reading this thread by parents throws light on why social media is the bane of any HT or school police liaison officer having to deal with this constant online mobbing by children of children. Parents should surely rise above this, but seems some are leading by atrocious example. Do you know how many children are having to deal with this shit? This isn't the HT's problem unless the adults can't nip it in the bud first and that's down to you, OP. Bullying happens online now and schools are facing a huge problem - the adults should try to work this out themselves rather than adding to the problem. At the very least, a few choice words expressing your view on the group should alert them to the conversation. too few are daring to do this. I wouldn't screenshoot - too many bullying threads amongst kids take these and replace them out of context.

Making a false against a teacher could end in the teacher taking action for slander !! I’m sorry but our school bans whattsapp groups for this reason! Parents seem to think they are on a crusade and have clout ! Teachers are backed up by the school and governors and the local education authority ! Any pathetic character assassination may cause the said teacher to lose their livelihood! As a Solicitor I would advise your group to get a grip and keep posts to info about clubs: trips and P.E days !! Or face private legal action !

I think I'd leave WhatsApp group for starters.

You need to make a stand on the group. Set an example, you are the adults.

Send all of it to the Head, and make it abundantly clear that your disagree, and found the teacher to be good, this is bullying and you can't keep quiet any more, totally unacceptable pile on

Why or how would the school already know? I would let the head know ASAP. Don’t get involved with the group. They seem to be jeering each other on and making things worse.