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For many school principals who saw a social media storm engulf Carlow Presentation College over its school uniform policy, there is a fear that it could easily have been them.
“There is a constant, low-level concern that something will be distorted and exploded online; WhatsApp groups are the worst, ”says a school principal, grappling with a similar uniform-related controversy at school. “Someone takes the wrong side of the stick and it spreads like wildfire.”
Another director who has also been in the eye of a recent online controversy agrees.
“It is such a dangerous weapon. Individuals are named or attacked before the facts are established. But you can’t get into a fight on social media. . . so keep your head down and hope it’s over. “
Schools are increasingly targeted by social media in ranks, uniforms, discipline. or treatment of students. Once, concerns would have been raised directly. Now, the accusations are spread out before the answers are brought up to date.
The stampede
In the stampede toward cold, instant judgment, principles, truth, context, or nuances are often put aside.
In the case of Carlow Presentation College, it all started innocently.
Due to Covid-19 regulations, which limit access to locker rooms, students can come to school with their training gear on days they have physical education. However, school staff had been concerned about flaws in the uniform policy, which stipulates that only a tracksuit should be worn for physical education.
“What the staff, myself and others have noticed over the last month and a half is that on PE day when the students came in, particularly the girls, the uniform regulations were not being followed and it was becoming more of a fashion show. more than anything else, ”the school’s principal, Ray Murray, told RTÉ.
School uniform rules
Together with his colleagues, Murray decided to send a reminder to the individual classes last Friday. The rumors, now known to be inaccurate, began circulating among some students later that the decision had been made due to discomfort among the male staff members. Some were unhappy that girls were singled out, not boys.
Murray said he checked with the relevant teachers to make sure nothing inappropriate was said. He said that he was assured multiple times that was the case.
“We have deans of discipline who are the mothers themselves who are talking to the girls and I know that nothing inappropriate, incorrect or uncomfortable was said to them,” he said.
What happened next, he says, puzzled the school at first. Traffic on social media about the school began on Friday night, drawing increasing attention.
Later that night, an anonymous petition was set up online to highlight “sexism against female students at school by staff and students.” All of this was based on unsubstantiated and, as it turns out, inaccurate reports.
Soon, more than 1,000 had signed.
When the mother of a student emailed the principal on Saturday, upset by what was allegedly said, the dean of discipline for the class responded to the mother through the principal.
“The mother called me half an hour later to say: ‘I’m sorry I got ahead of myself. I was following what other people had told me, ‘”Murray said.
But the initial claims had gained even more momentum online, with 3,500 signatures and a plethora of inaccurate allegations.
Largest audience
When some news outlets began running the story on Tuesday, repeating the claim, once again, one that was wrong, that tights were banned because they distracting male teachers, the audience grew.
Many media outlets did not wait for the school to respond before reporting the allegations.
By now, in light of the national media, the school issued a short statement Tuesday night. He stated that there have been no changes to the school uniform policy, but did little to counter the narrative.
With the news dominating the front pages of newspapers and radio shows, Murray took to the national airwaves Wednesday morning to make things clear about what happened from the school’s point of view.
Meanwhile, the original petition has reached nearly 10,000 signatures, nonstop on the original allegations. Given the controversy, the Department of Education has requested a report.
To observing directors, Carlow is a parable of our time. Only four Dublin girls’ schools are grappling with smaller-scale, but similar, baseless controversies, says a principal.
“The anger will subside and the story will move on, but it is much more difficult for principals and teachers who have worked so, so hard in the best interest of the students,” says one principal.
“It’s risky to respond publicly,” says another, “We don’t have public relations advisers. . . If you are defensive, you can make it look silly. If you get in line, it looks bad. You can’t win most of the time. “
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