Once Again…

We have an example of a school – in this case – believing that it has powers over others outside of its jurisdiction.

Pupils at a Yorkshire academy could be banned from trips if parents post negative comments about the school on social media.

In a letter, Morley Academy said “personal or insulting comments” by pupils, parents and carers will result in the “full withdrawal of privileges”.

One unnamed parent said it was “worse than being in the North Korean army.”

Head teacher Leanne Griffiths said parents and carers were being asked to model appropriate behaviour.

Another parent, who did not want to be named, said social media was “freedom of speech”.

Leanne Griffiths needs to learn that her authority begins and ends at the school gates. She has no authority over parents. They are her customers and if they wish to comment negatively on social media about the service she provides, that is their absolute right. To take out revenge on the children is childish, petty and spiteful. It is not up to her to attempt to regulate the behaviour of her customers by proxy. If they say things that are libellous, there is appropriate law in place to deal with it. If, on the other hand, it is nothing more than opinion or fair comment then there is nothing she can do about it beyond rebutting them and that is just too bad.

So, we have another little despot who thinks she has more power than she actually has. And this will blow-up nicely in her face. I have doubts, however, that she will learn from it.

She said where negative comments had been made online, then there had been a “breakdown in rapport” between parents and the school.

She added: “We would deem that breakdown in rapport to represent a significant risk and we would not want to put the student, or any other student or ourselves, in a vulnerable position until we re-establish that rapport.”

Ms Griffiths said there had been “too many examples of inaccurate and deeply offensive comments” made on social media and the academy is working with police to stop this.

Jesus Christ! So, rather than approach parents and seek to find out why they are reacting negatively and attempt to resolve it, she calls in plod. What a nasty piece of work.

For the avoidance of doubt; freedom of speech means you get to say whatever you want, no matter how much people might be offended, providing you are prepared to accept the consequences. Those consequences might involve legal action if your comments are libellous. In this case, the consequences are that a nasty little authoritarian has reacted with spiteful behaviour against the children (and  some pretty lame excuses into the bargain). If nothing else, the comments have exposed the attitudes and behaviours of the head, so, I’d say; objective achieved.