Would you leave a class WhatsApp due to a "mole"

[PsychoHacker]

I have one DC so I'm not very experienced with this sort of thing. I'm trying to work out if this is a non issue or if I have a right to be miffed.

There's a unofficial WhatsApp chat for DC's class. I've found it pretty useful as I don't have any other DC and this is my first rodeo with a child in school.

For a while now I've suspected that someone has been "feeding back" the chat to the school. The reason being that any time something is discussed, there seems to be a notice posted within a few hours, discussing exactly what was said in the chat.

I've not really given it too much thought as there is never anyone being malicious or saying anything bad about the school however there has been a few minor rants regarding the usual things like homework or school events etc.

There was a specific topic discussed recently that had nothing to do with the school, and there's no way the school would have any knowledge of it unless someone told them. Again nothing malicious however this really confirmed the "mole" theory for me.

Last week someone in the chat basically "outed" themselves as a friend of the teachers. Fine, doesn't make much of a difference to anyone however the more I think of it, the more uncomfortable it makes me.

Why would anyone feel the need to go running to the school with every little detail posted in this chat? Most of the topics are nonsense. Are they trying to score brownie points? Isolate themselves from the other parents? I just don't understand the thought process behind it.

I think I'll need to leave the chat as it's making me rather uncomfortable that someone is sharing my messages and input without my permission. Such a shame as the chat has been very helpful with keeping me informed with events and anything else school related. Wwyd?

Already answered that multiple times.

Don't leave the group but stop posting. Weirdos like this mole do it to feel important, like they know some very important info. It's a bit brown nosey. Curtain twitchers of the technological age.

But gossiping is probably what you are doing on WhatsApp @PsychoHacker! Unless it is about what day PE is or similar type comment, everything else is likely to be gossip

How are you aware that the school knows these things OP?

Mentioned it in the op

Making assumptions here without any facts.

Our class group has a teacher, a LSA and the school secretary in it as their kids are in the year. I use the principle that I don't say anything that I don't mind being public.

So having a mole shouldn't be an issue unless you're going to say something controversial.

So the school is addressing parents concerns? And you're upset about it? Why assume a "mole" rather than a parent contacting teacher following the discussion?

I'm no longer going to answer the few people that are looking for a quibble. It's quite frankly, really bloody boring now.
Everything you are repeatedly asking is either in my op or my posts that follow.

Thank you for those that have given sensible answers and possible explanations.

Yes, leave.

I don't participate in those groups. My children's school has an app for dates etc.

i have a few parents numbers from birthday invites, if I get stuck for information.

I am a year group rep and managed a year group whats app - it has something like 150 parents on it. People ask questions / offer advice … if someone had a school or teacher complaint they want me to help with, they would message me directly not post on the WhatsApp group.

I think your group admin should not be letting people rant to the group - other parents don’t want to spend their day with their phones pinging but also it’s not a forum to vent because that just escalates things and there are always two sides to a story

Other parents can do what I've done and mute the notifications.

I wouldn’t leave but nor would I post anything controversial. I’d use it just as an information sharing place.

I doubt they’re running to the school with every bit of info. More likely that it’s just come up in chit chat with colleagues.

i know we’ve had TAs and people who are friends with staff in our groups over the years and I’m sure they’ve mentioned things in passing.

Leave if you want to 🤷‍♀️

I am not on any of the WhatsApp groups as they were really annoying. My husband is on them but he never says anything.

I'm intrigued to know what exactly is getting fed back to the school, but I guess you might not want to share it here if too outing and it really isn't my business anyway.

But these groups are just for fun / if you tend to miss the emails. If it is stressing you out, just leave it and start a smaller side group with people you are actually friends with

It would help if you could give an idea on what is being fed back, or how you know it has been fed back, because why would the school then spend time sending out info on something that isn't anything to do with the school, unless it can impact the children @PsychoHacker

Could it be the other way and school are feeding things into the WhatsApp group

Schools don’t have time to do this kind of crap

@Bodumb OP is convinced they have time to take info from the WhatsApp group

Yeah, but it won’t be done officially. It will be someone moaning on.

The OP says that the school posts notices about things that have been in the chat and that's how she knows they have been fed back.

But, presumably the school only posts notices about school-related things, so not clear at all why OP thinks the "mole" is feeding back mundane nonsense that has nothing to do with the school.

Why leave? Just never post something online that you would not say to a teacher or the HT. As a Chair of Govs I am always battling WA groups because staff hate them whereas I maintain that they are a good measure of how things are going.