Head teacher's attempt to cracking down on social media use by parents

[TamaraHiddlestoned]

Does anyone have experience of a primary HT trying to limit parents' discussion of school standards & behaviour on social media?
Our HT wants to prevent any mention of the school or staff by any parent & in any context.
Aside from the impracticalities of this, and assuming that no laws are broken, does the HT actually have any power to do this?

Thanks for helping me to understand!

[CauliflowerSqueeze]

Good.

The massivr, massive majority of parents are supportive and sensible and raise queries normally and things go smoothly. It's just the occasional one who uses up everyone's time because they seem to feel that the entire school staff should revolve around every tiny whim, and desperately want to garner support so they can make out "everyone says"

[Wigeon]

Cauliflower - but even in your examples, there are examples of inappropriate comments (which are possibly open to the school taking legal action) - commenting on individual teachers, and then general comments about policies and procedures. Surely it's not unreasonable for parents to discuss improvements to school policies on online? Why should schools be exempt from that in a way that no other public sector organisation is? Imagine how ridiculous it would be if a local council tried to stop all discussion of how frequently the bins are collected, or whether the parks need improving?

But gossiping about teachers and commenting on their abilities online: not on.

[SwearyInn]

I'd also support the HT fully on this.

Publicly naming and shaming an individual teacher is abhorrent. It's out and out bullying. Social media bullying is a huge issue for school children - kids have committed suicide over it. I'm sure every parent would be banging on the HT's door if their child was a victim. So how the fuck is it OK to do to another adult??

there really are some nasty twats in this world.

[Tuiles]

We use two schools.

One specifically requests (not demands) parents do not use social media to discuss the school. One or two FB groups were closed, even though nominally they were of the 'helpful' type. I have no idea if there secret other groups.

The other school doesn't stop the FB groups, but teachers do seem to infiltrate them pretty quickly and head off any controversial content quickly (by asking for parents to meet the teachers concerned).

Both methods do not seem to cause any real issues. Perhaps because both skills have good communication lines otherwise?

[callycat1]

I think a polite request is fine, but an overbearing instruction might come across in the wrong way.

[MrsJoeyMaynard]

I can understand the HT not wanting parents to discuss individual teachers / pupils on social media, and I fully agree that's unacceptable behaviour - but prevent any mention of the school or staff by any parent & in any context ?

So would a parent be also banned from posting innocent harmless stuff like "school x mums, do the kids have to wear summer or winter uniform when they go back?" Or "school x mums, when is the dress up day, I've lost the letter" ?

Also, can a HT enforce this kind of ban if parents ignore the ban and carry on discussing stuff anyway?

[Moonrocks6]

I can understand heads trying to limit this, even if they can't really. By making it an issue they are at least setting out clearly and in advance that personal attacks on social media will 've dealt with seriously.

I have seen a couple of examples of this. On both accounts the staff members were completely innocent of any wrong doing and were acting on the best interests of the child. However, the posts on social media quickly got out of hand and became violent threats.

That is the issue with Facebook etc, people say things and act in ways that they would never say in real life and it quickly becomes some kind of mob mentality.

These comments had huge impacts, not only on the staff directly involved, but also on others. They effected staff confidence and relationships with parents and children.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

I work for a local authority, in a controversial field. So inevitably people talk about us on social media all the time. Much of it is rude, ill-informed and phrased in a way that no-one would ever dream of saying to my face. I am a human being as well as a council employee and it's horrible and unsettling. I see it when I'm at home relaxing and I can't do anything in response without breaching my own professional code of conduct. The comparison with cyber bullying is very apt.

So yes, the head teacher has my support. This will be because people are not being nice and are whinging behind people's backs instead of being adults and discussing things properly with the school. It's horrible for teachers to read and really damaging to the school's reputation.

[mumsneedwine]

As long as parents don't mind teachers discussing them on social media I think it's fair. You can comment on me if I can give my opinions of you . The helpful sites are great and I love them for reuniting shoes, pe kits and discussing homework. But as an example, a mum was moaning that the school had a huge theft problem and she had gone to the police as an item of her sons had gone missing. She slagged off everyone she could (by name). I was with her son the following week when he found the 'stolen' item, on the peg in the library where he had left it the preceding week. Apology ? No.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

Teachers and support staff will usually have to sign a code of conduct relating to social media. Any deviation from that code will result in disciplinary measures. I think if you want your child to attend a certain school but also want to shit stir and cause trouble for the school then you should accept the fact that your child will no longer be welcome there. It could never be enforced but what's good for staff is good for parents and in the long term best for the children attending the school. Children should feel pride in their school and they will not be able to I'd their parents are prepared to bleat about how terrible it is on social media or even at the school gate.

[MoreCoffeeNow]

I can understand why an HT would try to limit gossip on social media.

I'm baffled at what sort of parent would be a part of that, though. Very unpleasant and undermining. If you aren't happy with the school and private talks with the staff have not made you happier then take your DCs out.

Don't bully people on social media. Nasty when DCs do it. Utterly vile when grown adults do.

[noblegiraffe]

Some people seem to have an aversion to being told they can't do something, especially by a teacher (possibly a hangover from their own school days), but 'don't be a dick on social media' is a good rule for anyone.

[Oblomov16]

If it's a closed group?
We have a closed group, for the parents of children in year x: mufti tomorrow, don't forget xxx etc.

There was one discussion, that was removed. Head had been notified of it.
A child had been possibly abducted. This discussion did not discuss said incident, but just said, based on recent event, maybe school should consider higher security.
And then it was removed. I thought that was unfair.

[Oblomov16]

And no, I didn't start it, and only contributed that I wasn't concerned, and thought the security was fine.
But that's not the point.

I'm not sure why general discussions (not naming names of teachers or others etc, obviously) should be prohibited.

[Fcukthetww]

There's just been the same sort of thing on my friends Facebook. She mentioned the cost of the 4 day (uk based) PGL trip being too expensive and made a joke about it standing for "Parents get lost"...the next thing is every parent on her friends list getting a text about "Facebook tittle tattle".....seems a bit big brother and ott to me however I would also go down to the school if there was ever an issue I felt strongly enough to rant over

[trafalgargal]

Most businesses won't tolerate their customers slagging off individual staff members by name on social media eg "Mary Jones at Virgin Media has stolen my money as she won't let me cancel my TV contract without paying a penalty simply because I have 9 months left on my contract "(so is actually doing her job and following company policy). Why shouldn't teachers be afforded the same ? Most parents are reasonable but some are idiots.
.
.

[ThatStewie]

It does depend on the situation though - there are incidents/ staff who behave in a manner that does result in public discussions and should do so. Our HT is my least favourite person on the planet because he consistently refused to recognise autism as a condition that impacts children. He prefers the bad parent label. Insisting that no one talks on social media about it is completely ridiculous. It puts new parents in a shit position. Equally, no one has a bad thing to say about the DHT who were all terrified of losing because she is brilliant. Libellous statements, abuse and threats are clearly grossly inappropriate (and criminal in many cases). Banning discussions about ill-thought out policies (the HT latest theory that every single parent has a smart phone & internet despite school catchment including an area of extreme poverty being one) is asinine and controlling.

[Oblomov16]

What if school trips are too expensive? Or parents aren't being given enough notice about events, mufti days etc. What if those concerns have already been raised through the student rep, to the Head?

I see people posting those sorts of complaints. I can't see how you can stop it.

Those things don't bother me, but if they did, what are you supposed to do. If many people voice concerns, general chit chat? On a closed group?

I find most people, including myself complain. Victor meldrew. standing in playground waiting to pick up children you hear people complaining about ...., brexit, doctors surgery, work, school ....
how can a HT expect to stop that?

[AdaLovelacesCat]

" Why don't they stick their petty little gavels up theit arses."

this one made me

I wonder if Cauliflower is by an chance a teacher?

[Sameoldiggi]

I think some people believe they are still having a moan at the school gates when they go on social media, forgetting it is permanent and can eventually be seen by anyone.

[Oblomov16]

"If you aren't happy with the school and private talks with the staff have not made you happier then take your DCs out."

If you don't like it, leave?

I disagree with that sentiment. What if your school is the closest, most convenient to you, and there are no places at any other local schools? What is the school is fundamentally good, but still needs to listen to parents views on things that bother them/ways to improve?

Schools and all business's should be open minded and always willing to change.

Imagine if you went to a very posh restaurant with a very good reputation but got very bad service on that particular night. if you complained at the time, with a legitimate issue, and they turned round and said if you don't like it, leave! - you would be very upset because you would want the person to listen and to acknowledge that something had gone wrong.

even good restaurants, schools and every other business need to be open-minded and and always open to suggestions.

[Mistigri]

As long as parents don't mind teachers discussing them on social media I think it's fair.

Totally different. Parents don't have any obligation to uphold professional standards. They can say what they like, as long as they don't break the law - that's not to say that they should slag off schools on FB, and certainly not individual teachers, but they have the right to criticise public institutions if they want to.

Teachers OTOH are bound by professional standards and their employment contract.

[Oblomov16]

Can it?
Facebook : "permanent and can eventually be seen by anyone."

Even if it's a closed group?