Teachers Who Bully

Bullying Teachers 

The problem of teachers bullying students is more common than you think. Learn how to prevent your child from becoming a victim.

In recent years, a slew of books have offered parents ample insight into the minds of young bullies.

 

But what if it's the teacher who screams, threatens, or uses biting sarcasm to humiliate a child in front of the class?

 

Teacher bullying gets little attention. The dunce cap, standing in the corner, having one's hand whacked with a ruler, having one's poor grade announced to the class: all these methods that at one time were a common occurrence in educational settings might now fall under the category of bullying teachers. Bullying teachers can act by using degrading words and treatment, as well as physical punishments. Other school employees besides teachers can bully students, including coaches, custodians, security personnel, and the front office staff, even the principal. 

The public display of a bullying victim's inadequacy often has a different feel in the classroom. For most work is independent and grades can be returned privately versus in the gym, on the sports field, or in the shop setting-- where all work is on display, making everyone aware of the victim's situation. The teacher responding to a student while standing beside his or her desk can maintain some semblances of privacy; the coach or teacher responding to a student half a football field or gymnasium away will likely be heard by all. Thus, in some school settings, humiliation is more likely for a sensitive student, even when correction or constructive criticism is given, let alone when teacher bullying occurs.

It is unclear whether teacher bullying may actually set the stage for peer bullying. Teacher bullying may go unreported for several reasons. The victim may not trust the system to support or believe him or her, especially if there are any instances in which the victim had infringed school behavior rules. The victim may also fear retribution by the teacher in the form of a lowered grade or more teacher bullying behavior. The victim may also fear retribution by students who are in good standing with the teacher.  When teachers bully an entire class, the feeling may be that they have the support of the school and that everyone must know and accept this behavior. Teachers may also bully other teachers and school staff.
 
Stuart Twemlow, MD, a psychiatrist who directs the Peaceful Schools and Communities Project at the Menninger Clinic in Houston hints in his new study, published in The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, that the problem of teachers bullying may be more common than people believe.

In his anonymous survey of 116 teachers at seven elementary schools, more than 70% said they believed that bullying was isolated. But 45% admitted to having bullied a student. He defines teacher bullying as using power to punish, manipulate, or disparage a student beyond what would be a reasonable disciplinary procedure.


Although there are truly good teachers, we also know there are a few bad apples. Nevertheless, bullying is a risk.


Food for thought:

About a month or two ago, a mother complained to me that an upper grade teacher humiliated her son in front of the class and said "You and your people are a bunch of terrorists". This is such a horrible thing to say at all, never-mind to a 7th grader and yet nothing was done to the teacher. There were no repercussions for her actions and her job remained intact. Aside from the fact that she was wrong on so many levels, how does anyone think other children won't follow in line with the abuse.