The Age recently published an article about online chat groups that are often set up by parents within a school community. According to the article, the groups “often descend into bickering between adults, online harassment and toxic gossip, according to teachers, parents and education experts.”
The article quotes teachers, principals, parents and a cyber security expert who are concerned with the negative impact of ‘toxic’ conversations that take place in the chat groups.
Responding to the article, Parents Victoria CEO Gail McHardy said:
Social media commentary can be vile and inappropriate across many platforms and topics. Parents Victoria (PV) acknowledges that private social media groups generally do have rules and rely on good administrators to call members into line or remove posts/members if there is a breach of such rules. We are also aware that group members often monitor each other and call people out where needed but there should be a reasonable expectation that everyone behaves respectfully online and offline at all times.
For Victorian Government school parents, we always advise they must raise their concerns and/or complaints (individually or collectively) directly with the school in the first instance. Those frustrated with initial responses or outcomes have other processes to follow such as formal complaint mechanisms.
We are aware that people today do have a high sense of immediacy and can be very reactionary to situations they find themselves in. It’s a fact of life that due process will take time and if you’re not emotionally regulated you cannot perform at your best.
Parents Victoria has long advocated for respectful and constructive communication between parents and schools when problems arise. See our Think, Wait, Communicate page for more information.
