Internet Forum

[marilynmonroe]

Has anyone had any experience in setting one up at their primary school? I think it would be a really good place for parents to swap ideas and also for the PTA to communicate through etc.

Are there any privacy or data issues? I realise that it will have to be moderated quite strictly.

I am really keen to get one set up.

Marilyn:

If your school has a Virtual Learning Environment (like Moodle) - it would be possible to set up a closed discussion group for members of the PTA. It does not necessarily have to be fully open to all parents - it could be exclusive to PTA committee members.

I think it is an inclusive thing - many parents work and having a place you can e-mail concerns/ queries/ ideas - discuss options - may be best.

But perhaps like MN - it may need a moderator. And this may be something the school would prefer to control but struggle to make time for.

I would actually suggest you start by using an email discussion list; depending how large you PTa is in active memebrship you may not need any special software at all, just use blind copy.

Thanks for the reply but I was thinking of more for the whole school. At the moment there is only one year as it's a brand new school. I think it would be a great way for more parents to interact.

We had a yahoogroup for one class - it was really useful. You can set it up so new members are approved, posts are only for members (if desired) and there is a moderating option if necessary.

DS's beavers has a closed facebook group, but some of us are not on facebook so don't/can't participate. The yahoogroup meant anyone could access through email or online. Personally, I think running a forum is a lot of work - both policing it and the hosting/software end.

moderating a forum takes a lot of time. people have regular disagreements which have to be sorted out - all in your spare time and when you least have time for it. i would be surprised if the school would encourage it - they probably get enough moaning in real life without opening up a new conduit

Sounds like a recipe for total disaster to me. You will need a very good moderation system, and a much more hands on one than MN has. A pre-moderated site might be the best way forward but that will be time consuming.

The potential for data protection/privacy/libel/defamation issues that leave the site host open for prosecution is huge. So I don't think the school are going to be willing to open themselves up to that.

I can see the appeal of it while you are a small school with only one class. Perhaps quite close knit and know each other, so it isn't a problem. Once the school has expanded and you have classes in every year, I think it would become a very different thing.

We have a Facebook page which works pretty well.