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!

The law professors must be a bit too busy rebuffing people firmly to have kept up with the multitude of stories about people on social media being prosecuted.

Out of curiosity, OP, what sort of slagging off of your children's school do you all spend your time doing? Only it sounds a bit common and infra dig, and I wouldn't have thought the kind of school which boasted law professors among its demographic wanted that kind of parent.

People can only be prosecuted if they break the law.

On-line harrassment - illegal
Libel - not a crime but civil action might be taken
Criticism of an institution - perfectly legal regardless of whether the criticism is justified or not

and was rebuffed firmly by two law professors among the parents.

Fucking hell. Arrogant, up themselves parents who feel they can slag schools off while they "firmly rebuff" the person in charge. Why don't they stick their petty little gavels up theit arses.

This is totally irrational. Headteacher, completely erroneously, tries to claim that the law justifies what she wants, two parents who know what they're talking about point out, correctly, that she is mistaken. So suddenly they're arrogant, petty and feel they can slag schools off. Where is the evidence for those accusations? Let's say nothing about a Headteacher who lies and/or doesn't bother to check basic facts whilst trying to prevent parents from saying online even that they think the school is wonderful.

Social media presents all sorts of problems for schools in terms of confidentiality. So, the example of discussing a near abduction might wander into discussing the child in question. Or even discussing what's happened to your own child isn't really fair on your child - they might not want you to talk about them to their friend's parents.

The other issue is it can be used as a form of bullying. Wouldn't moaning about a particular teacher when they have no way of defending themselves be a form of harassment?

Also, it can be very cliquey. Some parents are in the group, others are not. Some aren't on FB at all. So it should not become the main source of information.

Also, it's pretty pointless. Why complain about school proceedure etc on social media when the school might not hear about it? Nothing will be done. Pissing into the wind. Better to take your concerns to the school. Or join the governors board. Or join the parent teachers association. Do something practical to help. Be kind and positive rather than spread negativity.

Yes, I do work in a school but not a teacher. I would be gutted if someone was discussing my professionalism on social media and I had no idea or was unable to defend myself. Not that I'd want to on social media.

Honestly, it's sad that HT have to ask parents to respect the school and it's staff and children this way. To point out what people should naturally know is not right. There are avenues for complaints. If the school isn't responding adequately, you go to the board of governors. If they don't respond, go above them to the local council.

I must say that there is a certain section of the teaching profession who think they know everything and that teachers are somehow extra special people who can do no wrong. If a power crazy HT starts spouting the law to control parents, then it is fair enough that someone points out that they are wrong.

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

No, they can't, unless it's defamatory. And even then they'd probably be mad to do so, given that a defamation action would get much more publicity than the original posting, would be extremely expensive, and carries the risk of bankrupting all concerned if they lose.

That's why it's stupid to go down the "ban" route, particularly when it's phrased in terms of banning any discussion of the school whatsoever: trying to impose a ban you can't enforce makes you look stupid. It would be so much better to make a firmly phrased but polite request and reinforce it regularly.

I never understand those parents who spend time moaning about their children school on FB. If you don't like the school or having issues which aren't being dealt with then spend that time finding a different school.

We had it my children school one parent hated the school, spent hours slagging off the staff and head teacher (who had just started at the school) then spent hours moaning to people that the staff wouldn't accommodate her every whim about her child.

She eventually moved them to another school and she having exactly the same issue.

What is irrational is that the people supporting the OP seem to have read an invisible post where she details what is being said on social media. What if they are saying that all the other kids are smelly chavs/Mr P is a dirty paedo etc etc.

I must say that there is a certain section of parents who think they know everything and that they are somehow extra special people who can do no wrong. If a power crazy group of parents starts spouting the law to control their child's school, then it is fair enough that someone points out that they are wrong.

The law professors must be a bit too busy rebuffing people firmly to have kept up with the multitude of stories about people on social media being prosecuted

Link to one story where people discussing an institution online have been prosecuted for the act of discussing it?

Agree with Judy's well written posts. Was just thinking the same.

If a power crazy group of parents starts spouting the law to control their child's school, then it is fair enough that someone points out that they are wrong

Likewise, if a power-crazy head starts spouting the law to control parents of pupils at their school, it is fair enough for parents to point out that they are wrong.

"What if those concerns have already been raised, through the student rep, to the head?"

Do you honestly think that in those circumstances the head is going to change their view because a bunch of parents are gossiping about it on social media?

Our school take a very sensible approach of mainly ignoring social media.

However I do have sympathy. I would post details of what I consider to be an outrageous use of social media recently to criticise our school, but will tape my mouth shut refrain from doing so because I am open on MN about who I am so it would be identifiable for the parent in question.

I agree with the Head.

Lots of primary schools here have a contract parents have to sign agreeing to this , similar to a homework contact for the kids.

Oblomov, permanent in that even if you delete your post, it might have been screenshotted by someone. That everyone knows in the end - well a concerned parent might report it to the school, or a teacher like me who is also on a parent group might think the school needed a discreet heads up about what was being said.
What happens on Facebook doesn't necessarily stay on Facebook.

True. Screenshots are a great, because they provide evidence. Evidence is good.

Yep we have had parents say something on FB which got screen shot then sent to the head, who threatened legal action. But then this is a head who also won't let you discuss why your child is upset after an incident at school on school grounds in case othe parents hear and their shiny reputation is ruined. They also break sencop on a regular basis but we aren't allowed to point that out either!

There can obviously be failings on both sides here. Schools need to listen to concerns/complaints from parents, and parents need not to gossip or "trash talk" about schools in public.

We are asked not to discuss the school issues on SM and to talk to them about it instead which is fair enough IMO.

Wow, thank you for all your varied comments; it's clearly a more topical subject than I expected!

Clearly I'm not advocating gossip, libel, defamation, or any negative comments at all - the place to handle that is clearly in school with the teachers or school management.
My concern is the heavy handed approach from the head, who was keen to stop all discussion in any circumstances. I just didn't think that he had the power to do that, as PP have said, we have free speech in this country & it needs to stay that way!

As the OP, I can obviously only speak for myself, but I don't tittle-tattle on social media nor in the playground (don't have time or desire).
I'm sure that the school, like all others, don't have the resources to take any legal action, it would be a great shame if it were to happen.

MrZ - I'd also like to see the cases concerned, even if only at headline level, just out of interest.

Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate your views

DameDiazepam sorry just seen your post - sounds interesting.

Does this contract apply to all of the pupil's family members?

If so, do they all have to sign?
(What about non-actionable discussions by non-family members? )

And what happens if the parent(s) don't sign the agreement?

JudyCoolibar Thank you for your really well phrased & informative posts.

I'm the admin for a parents facebook group
It is 99.9% lost jumpers and mufti days
But when the school changed the uniform with zero consultation and the new cost was too high for most parents, we used it to collectively organise and communicate our concerns to the school. Who had repeatedly rebutted and ignored individual letters. The school eventually came up with a cheaper alternative.

There's the odd moan about the car parking and the number of dressing up days but it is all very well-mannered, and its usually problem-solving. Parent Governors and parent TAs are on it too. The only person who used to have a bit of an axe to grind, has, indeed moved their kids.

I think parents NEED to be able to communicate in this way, and should not be prevented from doing so.

HanYOLO
Totally agree with you regarding the value of these sm discussions. Excellent idea to have school representatives on there. In the past, discussions regarding our school have been along the same lines (typically - What's the year X homework? Anyone got the year Y spellings list? when is mufti day? All riveting stuff!)
Maybe there's been something else going on behind the scenes either at our school or one in the LA area which has caused this behaviour by the head; if there has, I'm sure the majority of parents won't ever find out (& probably won't want to either!)

Oh Cauliflower you bring joy to my crushed little heart! The general public are awful to work with in any capacity, and more so when armed with a precious darling and a Facebook group:D