Your views on letter from School Governor
Discussion
OH posted this on private facebook account:
so happy.. have just been to meet xxx tutor, who said she was a kind, clever, caring model student that never puts a foot wrong J… not the disruptive naughty child that always makes bad choices she has been told she is for the last 2 yrs!!! I knew it was the teacher not the child that had the problem
Shortly after received this:
An incident has been brought to my attention as Chairman of the Governing Body at xxx School. I am afraid I need to raise the issue with you.
On or around xxx October 2015 you posted various comments on Facebook. These comments have been widely seen by a number of people connected with the school including parents and staff.
In those comments, among other things, you criticize one of the teachers – xxx. In doing so you undermine her professional reputation. She and her colleagues have been deeply distressed by your comments.
I should say that the headteachers, and through them the Governing Body, have the highest confidence in xxx who is an excellent teacher.
You will be aware that there has been extensive media coverage about harassment using internet or social media. Harassment is defined as:
“any unwelcome comments (written or spoken) or conduct which: violates an individual's dignity; and/or. creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.”
I think there is little doubt that any objective observer would classify your Facebook comments as harassment.
You are probably also aware that under the “Prevention of Harassment Act 1997”, harassment can give rise to both criminal and civil proceedings.
I shall be discussing the matter with xxx in the next few days to determine whether she wishes to bring the incident to the attention of regulators or take any other action.
Before that I thought it only fair to let you make any comments or representations to me or directly to xxx which may impact any decision. It also gives
you the opportunity to reflect on the issue and, I hope, remove the relevant comments from Facebook.
I cannot emphasise too strongly that in a school environment, the use of social media or other mass communication to raise issues or pass comment which may cause distress or anxiety is totally inappropriate. If you have matters which you wish to raise then speak in the first instance to xxx or xxx. If that does not resolve the issue you are more than welcome to communicate your concerns to me.
Whilst I feel the OH might have been a little more diplomatic, I thought the quasi legal tone of the ensuing letter was inappropriate from a School Governor. Your thoughts?
so happy.. have just been to meet xxx tutor, who said she was a kind, clever, caring model student that never puts a foot wrong J… not the disruptive naughty child that always makes bad choices she has been told she is for the last 2 yrs!!! I knew it was the teacher not the child that had the problem
Shortly after received this:
An incident has been brought to my attention as Chairman of the Governing Body at xxx School. I am afraid I need to raise the issue with you.
On or around xxx October 2015 you posted various comments on Facebook. These comments have been widely seen by a number of people connected with the school including parents and staff.
In those comments, among other things, you criticize one of the teachers – xxx. In doing so you undermine her professional reputation. She and her colleagues have been deeply distressed by your comments.
I should say that the headteachers, and through them the Governing Body, have the highest confidence in xxx who is an excellent teacher.
You will be aware that there has been extensive media coverage about harassment using internet or social media. Harassment is defined as:
“any unwelcome comments (written or spoken) or conduct which: violates an individual's dignity; and/or. creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.”
I think there is little doubt that any objective observer would classify your Facebook comments as harassment.
You are probably also aware that under the “Prevention of Harassment Act 1997”, harassment can give rise to both criminal and civil proceedings.
I shall be discussing the matter with xxx in the next few days to determine whether she wishes to bring the incident to the attention of regulators or take any other action.
Before that I thought it only fair to let you make any comments or representations to me or directly to xxx which may impact any decision. It also gives
you the opportunity to reflect on the issue and, I hope, remove the relevant comments from Facebook.
I cannot emphasise too strongly that in a school environment, the use of social media or other mass communication to raise issues or pass comment which may cause distress or anxiety is totally inappropriate. If you have matters which you wish to raise then speak in the first instance to xxx or xxx. If that does not resolve the issue you are more than welcome to communicate your concerns to me.
Whilst I feel the OH might have been a little more diplomatic, I thought the quasi legal tone of the ensuing letter was inappropriate from a School Governor. Your thoughts?
If your FB comment is as written, you don't criticize anyone on there. You say that after a meeting with xxx you have received feedback to say your child is a delight, and not the horror previously reported.
Where is the defamatory comment there? Certainly not to xxx
Ask the governer to explain his reasoning.
Where is the defamatory comment there? Certainly not to xxx
Ask the governer to explain his reasoning.
JonV8V said:
Don't post on Facebook or anywhere on the Internet for that matter something about someone you wouldn't say to their face or a judge.
Completely agree with that Problem is not everyone thinks the same
Sorry but I can't understand why some people need to tell the world what they are thinking or doing !
Parents can become overprotective and react differently when it comes to their own child, without realising what they are doing.
It was any other organisation, publicly criticising an individual employee would not be deemed appropriate.
In this situation I would try and get a meeting with the governor where I would apologise for the post on facebook, and raise the issues that I felt there were with the school.
It was any other organisation, publicly criticising an individual employee would not be deemed appropriate.
In this situation I would try and get a meeting with the governor where I would apologise for the post on facebook, and raise the issues that I felt there were with the school.
Of course everybody is entitled to say what they think, but they also have to realise that there may be consequences. It seems to me that too many people post on Facebook without thinking. If your wife is not happy with what is going on at the school. Speak to a member of staff about it.
My view on the letter, good on the governor, I say.
My view on the letter, good on the governor, I say.
What is it with people living their lives like an open wound on Facebook? What do they hope to achieve with posts like this?
Is speaking directly to the governor, teacher and/or anyone else who is actually involved to get some answers a totally alien concept?
I guess it's easier to talk s
t about people on Facebook behind their backs than it is to act like a responsible adult.
Is speaking directly to the governor, teacher and/or anyone else who is actually involved to get some answers a totally alien concept?
I guess it's easier to talk s
t about people on Facebook behind their backs than it is to act like a responsible adult. Our HR department actively monitor Facebook for this reason.
If you wouldnt say it outside of your own 4 walls, or involves you and yours either at work or school and could cause the slightest bit of distress, don't stick it on Facebook.
Facebook has clouded the judgement of many. Your privacy settings on Facebook on default settings basically lets anyone see anything you have posted. Same goes for friends, friends of friends, groups etc.
Reverse it, if you were on the receiving end, and parents were starting to ask you questions about "what so and so said on Facebook" and all of a sudden the governers want a word - Not nice
If you wouldnt say it outside of your own 4 walls, or involves you and yours either at work or school and could cause the slightest bit of distress, don't stick it on Facebook.
Facebook has clouded the judgement of many. Your privacy settings on Facebook on default settings basically lets anyone see anything you have posted. Same goes for friends, friends of friends, groups etc.
Reverse it, if you were on the receiving end, and parents were starting to ask you questions about "what so and so said on Facebook" and all of a sudden the governers want a word - Not nice
The comment, whilst may to some seem to be about the child, to me and most others (i imagine) it comes across as a snipe at the teacher. I don't understand and never will why people feel the need to "Air their dirty laundry in public" via Facebook.
I would say there are very few students that fit into either category that is mentioned in the Facebook post (most are somewhere in the middle!) and one certainly wouldn't be mistaken for the other!
I would say there are very few students that fit into either category that is mentioned in the Facebook post (most are somewhere in the middle!) and one certainly wouldn't be mistaken for the other!
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?
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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