Letter from School quoting Abusive Language

cte1111

My daughter is in the last year of primary school.

Today I received a letter from the school, discussing a recent problem that has happened with children in her year group. There's apparently been incidents of children being abusive to each other on Skype. The letter reminds us that we need to monitor our children's use of social networking.

So far, so good.

However the letter then went on to show a transcript of a Skype conversation between 2 children. It was really awful, full of swearing, talk of sexual assaults and other words that I would hope my children don't know. I was quite shocked to be sent this by the headteacher. The conversation was explicit and not something I wanted to read.

Do people think it was appropriate for the school to send this out to parents? I was worried that my children might read it and was quite upset after reading it myself.

whodathunkit

Why would your children read it unless you gave it to them?

wiogs

Perhaps the head teacher felt that shock tactics were required to highlight the severity of the issue.

Seems a bit extreme though to quote it.

How would your children get hold of the letter?

cte1111

I don't have anything in the house with language like that in it. Unless I shred it (which we probably will) then there's a danger that my daughter could pick it up and have a look.

Blackpool_Saver

This letter is from one adult to another. Frankly you need to man/woman up, the fact that you are so shocked shows you do not know what is going on. I suspect the head thought it necessary to shock to wake up slumbering parents and make them take action.

cte1111

I'm not a 'slumbering parent' though. My daughter doesn't access any social networks. We keep an eye on what she is using her mobile phone for (she only got one for Christmas this year). The only computer she has access to is in the lounge and she asks us before she uses it. We keep an eye on how she uses it.

I don't really see why I should be shocked by explicit language, when it is nothing to do with my child.

balletshoes

if the letter is sent from the school to the parents, and isn't given to the child to bring home, then i'd say its acceptable - and as others have said, probably as a shock tactic to get parents to sit up and take notice.

fairy_lights

I think it's absolutely appropriate that the school sent it to you. If other children in your daughters year are using language/having conversations like that, then there's a pretty good chance your daughter does too. You might think your children don't know those words but how can you be sure? if this shocks parents of your daughters year in to being more vigilant about their internet activity and more aware of what their little darlings are getting up to, it can only be a good thing.

balletshoes

cte1111 wrote: »

I'm not a 'slumbering parent' though. My daughter doesn't access any social networks. We keep an eye on what she is using her mobile phone for (she only got one for Christmas this year). The only computer she has access to is in the lounge and she asks us before she uses it. We keep an eye on how she uses it.

I don't really see why I should be shocked by explicit language, when it is nothing to do with my child.

you clearly have an issue with this - I'm thinking more along the lines that every parent in your child's class has received this letter, in the hopes that it does focus some parents in the direction of checking what their children may be up to online. If you are happy that your child isn't involved, then I would just shred the letter.

Buzzybee90

You seem to be reacting quite strongly... Was it really that bad?

cte1111

As I've already said, we monitor our children's online activity fairly closely. I've also talked to them about why this is so and talked to them about being careful online. The main letter was helpful, both to let us know what has happened and to remind us to be vigilant.

However I don't feel it was necessary to deliberately shock the parents of over 60 children, just because 2 were involved in some very unpleasant activity.