Your views on letter from School Governor
Discussion
We had this issue at my daughters last school. A private parents group on Facebook resulted in letters from the Chair of Governors.
Mind you we voted with our feet and pulled our daughter out, along with 5 others in her class. Shortly after OFSTED inspected, put the school in special measures, and all the Governors were sacked
Mind you we voted with our feet and pulled our daughter out, along with 5 others in her class. Shortly after OFSTED inspected, put the school in special measures, and all the Governors were sacked
zarjaz1991 said:
Facebook. Why do people do it? Just, why?
I use it in a locked down mode (viewable by friends only) - my close friends are scattered around the world. We used to use email chains but they got a bit unwieldy. FB provides us with an easy way to stay in touch, banter and share photos, etcAlso our local community uses it - it's handy for knowing whats going on in the village - kind of a village notice board.
C Lee Farquar said:
OH posted this on private facebook account:
Ain't no such thing.Who could see the comments? Who could see replies and likes to the comments?
Assuming it was on her FB wall, rather than in a group - if it was the default settings, then your OH's FB friends could see and reply to it - and then their friends can see your OH's original comment and all the replies, including those made by your mutual friend. Who are those friends-of-friends? Your OH has no idea at all. You can see, I hope, how that's anything BUT "private". If it was truly private, there would be no point in posting on FB - since nobody would see it...
Vaud said:
No legal advice but christ I hope the teacher in question grows a thicker skin and never does playground duty as they will hear far worse from the kids.
No they won't. Any half decent school will have a behaviour policy and kids who swear or abuse teachers should get disciplined. It's kind of difficult to get Little Johnny to behave in School if Little Johnny's mum blames the school for his poor behaviour / attainment rather than looking a bit closer to home.Countdown said:
It's kind of difficult to get Little Johnny to behave in School if Little Johnny's mum blames the school for his poor behaviour / attainment rather than looking a bit closer to home.
Followed immediately by a fine demonstration...johnfm said:
The letter is a joke to be honest - if I it that I would be at the school the next day for a chat I think.
Perhaps the kid WAS an utter little s
t to the first teacher, but is behaving for the second? Has that crossed the parents' minds?
What makes a good or bad teacher is very subjective.
There was a maths teacher at my sons' school who all the parents and kids complained about. My heart sunk when my eldest got her as his maths teacher. He was top set maths anyway but although he said she was horrible, his work level seemed to progress at an extraordinary rate. When I put this to him, he said "I never said she was a bad teacher, she's brilliant, just a horrible human being. A lot of kids seem to switch off from her as she's so unpleasant, but I figured I'm not in class to be her mate, I'm in class to learn maths."
So same teacher, some kids did well, others didn't.
Shortly after that, for some maths thing they were doing, each kid had to bring in an A4 sheet with a map of the world. My son got one and figuring that many kids would forget, and that they were all terrified of her, her took about 20 copies and sold them on the day to the forgetful kids and 20p a pop. But when they got into class, she noticed that many of them had the same map. She went mental and screamed out how they all had the same map, (she was looking forward to ripping the forgetful kids to shreds I guess) so my lad put his hand up and admitted that he'd sold them copies. He thought his number was up but she asked him how much he'd sold them for and them berated him, saying that he'd underestimate her fear factor and he could have got 50p or maybe a pound if he'd been a bit shrewder.
There was a maths teacher at my sons' school who all the parents and kids complained about. My heart sunk when my eldest got her as his maths teacher. He was top set maths anyway but although he said she was horrible, his work level seemed to progress at an extraordinary rate. When I put this to him, he said "I never said she was a bad teacher, she's brilliant, just a horrible human being. A lot of kids seem to switch off from her as she's so unpleasant, but I figured I'm not in class to be her mate, I'm in class to learn maths."
So same teacher, some kids did well, others didn't.
Shortly after that, for some maths thing they were doing, each kid had to bring in an A4 sheet with a map of the world. My son got one and figuring that many kids would forget, and that they were all terrified of her, her took about 20 copies and sold them on the day to the forgetful kids and 20p a pop. But when they got into class, she noticed that many of them had the same map. She went mental and screamed out how they all had the same map, (she was looking forward to ripping the forgetful kids to shreds I guess) so my lad put his hand up and admitted that he'd sold them copies. He thought his number was up but she asked him how much he'd sold them for and them berated him, saying that he'd underestimate her fear factor and he could have got 50p or maybe a pound if he'd been a bit shrewder.
C Lee Farquar said:
However the OH does and says what she thinks and I stand by her.
That's very close to the 'I always speak my mind', 'I say it how it is', 'I call a spade a spade' approach which some people are prone to, and which inevitably bites them on the arse at some point.You OH has said what she thinks and the school has responded in kind. It works both ways.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Sets a good example to the young impressionable kids I guess, send threatening letters as soon as anyone says anything bad about you.
I read it more as "Don't abuse our staff on social media", I couldn't see my threats in the letter.Surely if an employee is being abused the employer SHOULD step in to defend / protect them?
Why did the parent feel the need to publicly say iher kid's behaviour was the teachers fault?
Countdown said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Sets a good example to the young impressionable kids I guess, send threatening letters as soon as anyone says anything bad about you.
I read it more as "Don't abuse our staff on social media", I couldn't see my threats in the letter.Surely if an employee is being abused the employer SHOULD step in to defend / protect them?
Why did the parent feel the need to publicly say iher kid's behaviour was the teachers fault?
Don't get me wrong, I don't understand why people feel the need to post drivel like this on Facebook in the first place, but it does seem like a complete over-reaction if the only thing said was what was in the OP.
Countdown said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Sets a good example to the young impressionable kids I guess, send threatening letters as soon as anyone says anything bad about you.
I read it more as "Don't abuse our staff on social media", I couldn't see my threats in the letter.Surely if an employee is being abused the employer SHOULD step in to defend / protect them?
Why did the parent feel the need to publicly say iher kid's behaviour was the teachers fault?
I'm guessing that this may be an Academy?
In which case the chair of governors is effectively a board members of a charitable trust. That board answers only to the Dept for Education.
You then get 5 or six individuals determining the future of a school with no concern for the community that it is intended to serve. As these governing bodies are akin to small businesses they are often very badly advised in terms of legal and PR matters.
The end result of this can be some extremely strange responses to legitimate protest or comment from parents.
In which case the chair of governors is effectively a board members of a charitable trust. That board answers only to the Dept for Education.
You then get 5 or six individuals determining the future of a school with no concern for the community that it is intended to serve. As these governing bodies are akin to small businesses they are often very badly advised in terms of legal and PR matters.
The end result of this can be some extremely strange responses to legitimate protest or comment from parents.
JustinP1 said:
I don't think either party has holy light shining on them in this.
However, consider if the letter was like this:
"Dear Facebooker,
I write on behalf of the governors of X school. It's been brought to my attention that you have posted on Facebook some comments about teaching at the school.
I would ask that any concerns you have about teaching are raised with the Headteacher, or, failing this, I am more than happy to hear your concerns.
I appreciate that this was not your intention, however, I hope you can also appreciate that your comments can be read of criticising a teacher in public. Not only does this undermine the school, it has caused distress to Mrs Miggins.
As such, I would like to ask that you could remove these comments from public viewing. I appreciate that you have concerns which is why I offer my telephone number and email address, where I am more than happy to discuss them with you.
Yours,
Sensible Governor.
Would this even be an issue now, if that were the letter?
That's a ridiculous proposition. Where, anywhere in that version of the letter, does it leave any room for the offended party to sue for damages?However, consider if the letter was like this:
"Dear Facebooker,
I write on behalf of the governors of X school. It's been brought to my attention that you have posted on Facebook some comments about teaching at the school.
I would ask that any concerns you have about teaching are raised with the Headteacher, or, failing this, I am more than happy to hear your concerns.
I appreciate that this was not your intention, however, I hope you can also appreciate that your comments can be read of criticising a teacher in public. Not only does this undermine the school, it has caused distress to Mrs Miggins.
As such, I would like to ask that you could remove these comments from public viewing. I appreciate that you have concerns which is why I offer my telephone number and email address, where I am more than happy to discuss them with you.
Yours,
Sensible Governor.
Would this even be an issue now, if that were the letter?
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