Last year’s 5th grade girls at our school really screwed up with a group chat. My Dd isn’t in that grade but has friends who are. Two of her friends aren’t allowed to be in group chats and the parents felt like they got really lucky to avoid the consequences some of the group chat bystanders later faced.

TBH allowing fifth graders to participate in any group chat sounds like a horrendous idea.

Anonymous wrote:My experience is that 5th grade group chats are nothing but bad news. When my DD was in 5th grade the principal and guidance counselor ended up involved. Just say no. Your kid won't miss out on anything but trouble.

that reminds me of a 5th grade AIM chart we had back in 2000. Someone ended up suspended because was joking about the Columbine the school.

My experience is that 5th grade group chats are nothing but bad news. When my DD was in 5th grade the principal and guidance counselor ended up involved. Just say no. Your kid won't miss out on anything but trouble.

My kid is not on any chats. But her fellow 5th graders got in trouble earlier this year due to their behavior/threats on the group chat. Principal sent out an email to the 5th grade parents & everything.

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure it's bullying and not roasting where it's fun and the children are in on the joke?

Is there a difference?

Are you sure it's bullying and not roasting where it's fun and the children are in on the joke?

I wouldn't let my kid on in the first place (and haven't!), but hell yes I would remove.

My DD has a 5th grade group chat not on a school platform, it is on iMessage. About 20 kids are on it. I do monitor the chat, as do a few other parents, just for safety reasons.

We are fortunate that there is no shenanigans such as bullish behavior. But, I believe I would send a message that the kids are ruining the chat for everyone. Then, I would likely contact the other kid's parents to let them know about the behavior.

Also OP the attitude of "everyone bullies everyone" may lead your kids to be like the boys in this thread over in the Teen forum. Please don't be that parent who thinks that's a good thing:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/1268562.page#29856352

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it on a school platform? If so they typically monitor and will find out somehow and there will be consequences.

Even if not, it sounds like a pretty toxic environment. My kid's "7th grade group chat" is used for answering questions about details on assignments and stuff.

is on Imessage there no way it school platform

FCPS has Google Chat and our private school has Microsoft Teams, so some schools/systems do have an option.

The school can still find out other ways. Screenshots will often make their way to admin.

Anonymous wrote:Is it on a school platform? If so they typically monitor and will find out somehow and there will be consequences.

Even if not, it sounds like a pretty toxic environment. My kid's "7th grade group chat" is used for answering questions about details on assignments and stuff.

is on Imessage there no way it school platform

Is it on a school platform? If so they typically monitor and will find out somehow and there will be consequences.

Even if not, it sounds like a pretty toxic environment. My kid's "7th grade group chat" is used for answering questions about details on assignments and stuff.

Even if he is just a bystander, I would remove him. This is horrible behavior. He needs to understand that watching bullying and doing nothing is just as bad as participating.

Will you remove your kid from the "5th grade group chat"?

MY DS was added and the group chat is 100% bullying, He said is fine because everyone bullys everyone, What are your though about this?


There only 12 kids in the chat so half the class wasn't even invite so not even sure they know they are getting bullied or what ever going on,