Principals asked school teachers to leave parental chats

Teachers in several Russian cities at once reported that the authorities urged them to leave classroom chats where parents were present. So far, this order is from the category of voluntary-compulsory, but it may even come to an official ban. “MK” found out what caused such an unspoken order, and whether this measure would be of any use.

Where such an initiative of individual school principals came from is still unclear, but information about such an initiative is already coming from different parts of the country – for example, from St. Petersburg, Perm, Novosibirsk. Teachers share it “in confidence”, because they have not yet seen any official papers regulating their participation or non-participation in chats.

We always had two chats in the class. One is for me and the students, where the guys and I discuss all our cool things. The second chat in the fifth grade was made by my mother from the parent committee. All my parents are included, including myself. And in principle, it was created with the same goals: I bring all school-wide and classroom information to moms and dads, answer current questions, ”the class teacher Evgenia told MK. – Almost all teachers in our school have such chats. So before September 1, at the teachers’ council, the director told us that we should get out of parental conversations.

– And why?

– To prevent corruption. They say that we, God forbid, do not collect money for something. It seems like there was such a case in one of our schools: a “vigilant” parent photographed a message where the teacher asks parents to chip in for notebooks, and sent the screen where it should be. And the director flew. I had to leave the chat. Our mothers were immediately frightened, they decided that I was leaving their class, they filled up with messages and calls. I explained to everyone that now all announcements are only through the parent committee.

– Our director has a rich “intelligence network” and she was not too lazy and checked if we were in parent chats, – said the English teacher Alena, – From those who were seen in them, she demanded to leave immediately. The explanation is the same: to exclude extortion.

Yes, I admit, sometimes I really ask my parents to buy something. For example, for an additional set of textbooks in my subject: the guys complete assignments in them so as not to spoil school textbooks. And before each New Year, together with our mothers, we decided how we would congratulate the children, what we would buy them for tea. But is it fees? We are all voluntary.

Yes, I had to leave our chat, only it makes no sense. If it is necessary to offer mothers to chip in for something, I will calmly do it anyway – for example, through children or activist parents.

– Do these directors really believe that corruption in our schools can be eradicated in this way? – the teacher from the small Siberian city of Dinara is surprised. – Charges for notebooks, for a gift card for a teacher, and even for some “textbook” curtains – this is a drop in the ocean in comparison with how disproportionate the load of ordinary teachers is to their salaries.

They put extra hours on us, plus a lot of bureaucracy. Just yesterday, on a social network, my colleagues from different regions discussed how much someone is paid extra for classes that are overcrowded. Somewhere for each “additional” student they pay 500 rubles from the city, and someone for 35 children receives the same amount as others for 24. Raise the salaries of teachers in the regions, equip subject teachers with everything necessary – and there will be no requisitions!

Tatyana Kabanova, chairwoman of the parent committee of one of the senior classes, considers the idea of ​​“isolation” of teachers a step backwards in the system of school communication.

– The fact that modern parents can discuss issues with a teacher in chat rooms is just a lifesaver. Remember our school childhood, when fathers and mothers did not have the opportunity to quickly solve an important problem together, with the participation of a teacher. Everyone worked, try to break out to school! So why give up the benefits of civilization, the rapprochement of teachers and parents? The whole world is moving to communication through gadgets. And we?

Psychologist and etiquette specialist Uliana Ustinova also sees the idea of ​​shielding teachers from parental chats as unproductive. This, they say, immediately psychologically distances the teacher from moms and dads. However, the expert warns: in order to avoid conflicts or reasons to suspect the teacher of incorrect actions, the teacher should immediately establish clear rules.

“Firstly, appoint one of the adequate, responsible parents as the chat administrator,” Ustinova advises teachers. – Let him moderate messages, removing unnecessary “garbage” that can develop into a serious conflict. I mean discussion of non-educational topics, squabbles, getting personal, obscene language and, of course, any topic related to fundraising. Don’t raise these questions yourself.

In addition, when communicating in a public space, follow the rule: “first think a hundred times – then write.” No emotional statements.

Remember that any of your messages can be copied by one of the chat participants and, if necessary, used against you. You understand that parents come across different, among them there are professional complainers. The last piece of advice is not just for teachers: moms and dads also often speak thoughtlessly, which they later regret.