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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Teachers on Facebook and night out

333 replies

GreenGreenGrassBlue · 03/09/2022 08:45

I’ve name changed for this, my friend was showing me photos of her children’s SLT (Dep Heads, other teachers) out on a night out in a City. She’s friends with one of the Teachers on Facebook.

There are photos of them enjoying a night out, doing shots etc and this Teacher is friends with a number of parents on Facebook.

AIBU to think it’s probably not appropriate to share these sort of photos on Facebook?

It is titled like a pre back to work night out with a number of parents commenting things like ‘are you ready?’.

Im not saying don’t go out but not sure how appropriate it is for teachers to be sharing like this on Facebook.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 03/09/2022 08:47

Perhaps your friend should send her children to a convent school where the teachers are all Nuns if she doesn't want teachers to have a life outside of school.

AbsolutelyLoveIy · 03/09/2022 08:49

😂😂😂

Frizzzmonster · 03/09/2022 08:49

I personally would be more private on Facebook. But Facebook isn't for children and since only adults are seeing I don't really see what the issue is. We all know that most adults drink and do a good job so really what's the problem?

MessyBunPersonified · 03/09/2022 08:49

What's inappropriate about a teacher having a night out?

Dadaya · 03/09/2022 08:49

It’s called maintaining a professional image. People like teachers, doctors, and other professionals are expected to keep their private life private. It’s a sackable offence if you don’t.

LampLighter414 · 03/09/2022 08:49

YABU

Soproudoflionesses · 03/09/2022 08:49

If it wasn't during school hours, it is none of your business op - do you think other professions don't have social lives?

raindon · 03/09/2022 08:50

As long as there's no white powder I don't see the issue?

DobbyHasASock · 03/09/2022 08:50

This is why you don't befriend parents on FB.
There's always one out to ruin your career by making out a picture of you with a large comedy beer is somehow a stackable.offense.

Libertyqueen · 03/09/2022 08:50

Nothing wrong with going out, nothing wrong wi posting it privately on Facebook (although many wouldn’t). The issue is having parents as friends on FB. The schools I’ve worked in more recently have all had a social media policy against this. If there is a reason you have to get special dispensation from the policy (e.g your sister is also a parent at the school).

Having said that, if I saw photos of my children’s school SLT on a night out I wouldn’t think too much about it.

ChittyChittyBoomBoom · 03/09/2022 08:50

Why would this be inappropriate?

They're not doing anything illegal!

raindon · 03/09/2022 08:50

Is a bit odd having parents as "friends" though

20viona · 03/09/2022 08:50

Everyone's allowed a night out ffs get a grip.

PuttingDownRoots · 03/09/2022 08:51

Is she coincidentally friends with the teacher (I knew a lot of DDs teachers socially at one point, away from them being teachers, and indeed went to parties with them) or is the teacher befriending her pupils parents on FB?

The second situation is unprofessional. In the first situation, you accept your friend is human!

Darkness22 · 03/09/2022 08:51

It's unprofessional and shows poor judgement. It's probably against the school's social media policy too. Doing the thing and posting about the thing are two different things 😁

MichelleScarn · 03/09/2022 08:51

Dadaya · 03/09/2022 08:49

It’s called maintaining a professional image. People like teachers, doctors, and other professionals are expected to keep their private life private. It’s a sackable offence if you don’t.

Is that because some people see these roles as 'public servants' and have the "I pay your wages" attitude?

SoupDragon · 03/09/2022 08:52

AIBU to think it’s probably not appropriate to share these sort of photos on Facebook?

what isn't appropriate is your friend sharing the photos with you. Your friend should stop "Gossiping".

presumably the teachers pages have appropriate privacy settings.

LadyCampanulaTottington · 03/09/2022 08:53

Wait … do teachers not live in the school and sleep in the teacher’s lounge?! 😳

SeeSeaC · 03/09/2022 08:53

I wouldn't be friends with parents until I'd left the school ,you'll open yourself up for criticism
Personally I couldn't care less what they got up to out of hours if it was legal

Mangocrazy1 · 03/09/2022 08:53

@raindon why is it odd?? They could’ve been friends before they taught their children? I wet to school with one of my DD’s teachers and know another from a sports group. I knew them way before I had my kids!!

Summerholidays204949393 · 03/09/2022 08:53

YABU

Notjusta · 03/09/2022 08:53

DobbyHasASock · 03/09/2022 08:50

This is why you don't befriend parents on FB.
There's always one out to ruin your career by making out a picture of you with a large comedy beer is somehow a stackable.offense.

Is it??!!

smelters · 03/09/2022 08:53

At the school I work in (TA) we are not allowed to be friends on Facebook with any parents. School staff are allowed to do what they want outside of school hours but it shouldn't be posted on social media for everyone to see.

Loics · 03/09/2022 08:54

Were you one of those kids who, like a lot of us, thought teachers didn't exist/have a life outside of school, but never realised it obviously wasn't true as you grew up?

ChittyChittyBoomBoom · 03/09/2022 08:54

Dadaya · 03/09/2022 08:49

It’s called maintaining a professional image. People like teachers, doctors, and other professionals are expected to keep their private life private. It’s a sackable offence if you don’t.

Rubbish.

Yes, we’re bound by our professional standards but a night out doesn’t breech those! It’s not advised to have parents on your social media (for lots of reasons) but teachers on a night out could easily bump into parents on a night out-what then? 🤷🏽‍♀️