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Teacher-Targeted Bullying and Harassment in Australian Schools: A Challenge to Teacher Professionalism

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Professionalism and Teacher Education

Abstract

In this chapter, we consider how teacher professionalism is challenged by teacher-targeted bullying and harassment (TTBH) in Australian schools. Informed by findings from our exploratory mixed method study of TTBH in Australia, the incidence of student bullying towards teachers suggests that conventional views of professionalism need rethinking. International research reveals that TTBH occurs irrespective of an individual’s innate gifts, talents, experience, commitment or traits. TTBH has been attributed to a range of factors external to personal professional expertise and its incidence undermines or compromises the sustained practice of victimised teachers. Yet, in our neoliberal climate of governmentality, where performativity pressures inhibit disclosure of struggle, TTBH has been invisibilised. In a culture dominated by managerialism, standards and compliance, the right of teachers to a safe workplace needs urgent redress. Until government policy explicitly addresses the provenance and extent of this issue, teacher vulnerability to student and parent-enacted TTBH threatens teacher well-being.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Rochelle Fogelgarn, Edgar Burns & Paulina Billett

Authors
  1. Rochelle Fogelgarn
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  2. Edgar Burns
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  3. Paulina Billett
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rochelle Fogelgarn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, QLD, Australia

    Amanda Gutierrez

  2. School of Education, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, QLD, Australia

    Jillian Fox

  3. School of Education, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, QLD, Australia

    Colette Alexander

Appendix—TTBH Survey Questions 2018

Appendix—TTBH Survey Questions 2018

  • Investigation into Teachers’ Experiences of Bullying and Harassment in Australian Schools

  • Q2 What is your gender?

  • Male

  • Female

  • Other

  • Q3 What is your age bracket?

  • 21–30

  • 31–35

  • 36–40

  • 41–50

  • 51–60

  • 60–70

  • 70+

  • Q4 How long have you held registration as a teacher?

  • Less than 1 year

  • 1–4 years

  • 5–9 years

  • 10–14 years

  • 15–19 years

  • 25+ years

  • Q5 Which educational level are you employed in? Tick all that apply

  • Primary school

  • Secondary School

  • Q6 which area do you teach into? Tick all applicable

  • Technology

  • Sport and Health

  • Humanities/Social Sciences

  • Math

  • English

  • Science

  • Art

  • Languages

  • Information Technology

  • Generalist

  • Specialist

  • Other

  • Q7 In what role are you currently employed

  • Teacher

  • Head Teacher

  • Deputy Principal

  • Principal

  • Q9 In which state/territory(s) have you taught? Please select more than one if applicable

  • Queensland

  • New South Wales

  • Australian Capital Territory

  • Victoria

  • South Australia

  • Western Australia

  • Norther Territory

  • Tasmania

  • Q10 Over the last twelve months, have you experienced bullying or harassing behaviour(s) from a student?

  • Yes

  • No

 

In the last fortnight

In the last month

In the previous 2 to 5 months

In the previous 6 to 8 months

In the previous 9 to 12 months

Yelling

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Swearing

          

Hitting or punching

          

Damaging personal property

          

Disparaging remarks (verbal)

          

Disparaging remarks (social media)

          

Standing over/invading personal space

          

Organising others against a teacher/principal

          

Lying about a teacher/principal to get them into trouble (9)

          

Harassing through phone calls or text messages

          

Discriminatory behaviour

          

Student engaging a parent to argue on their behalf

          

  • Q14 Did you receive support from any of the following sources? (Tick all relevant)

  • Department of education or other governing institution

  • Teachers Union

  • Head teacher

  • Other staff members

  • Parents

  • Partner or family

  • Other (please specify)

  • Q15 Over the last twelve months, have you experienced bullying or harassing behaviour(s) from a parent/guardian(s)?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Q16 Which of the following behaviour(s) from a parent/guardian(s) have you experienced and in what frequency? (Tick all relevant)

 

In the last fortnight

In the last month

In the previous 2 to 5 months

In the previous 6 to 8 months

In the previous 9 to 12 months

Yelling

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Repeat aggressor

Once off instance

Swearing

          

Hitting or punching

          

Damaging personal property

          

Disparaging remarks (verbal)

          

Disparaging remarks (social media)

          

Standing over/invading personal space

          

Organising others against a teacher/principal

          

Lying about a teacher/principal to get them into trouble (9)

          

Harassing through phone calls or text messages

          

Discriminatory behaviour

          

Student engaging a parent to argue on their behalf

          

  • Q17 Have your own experiences of bullying and harassment by parents/guardians ever made you want to leave the teaching profession?

  • Yes

  • At times

  • No

  • Q18 Please tell us a little about the impact your own experiences of bullying and harassment by parents/guardians has had on you and your desire to teach

  • Q19 Did you receive support from any of the following sources?

  • Department of education or other governing institution

  • Teachers Union

  • Head teacher

  • Other staff members

  • Parents

  • Partner or family

  • Other (please specify)

  • Q22 Do you feel that bullying and harassment of teachers by students and their parents is an issue for schools in Australia?

  • Definitely yes

  • Probably yes

  • Unsure

  • Probably not

  • Definitely not

  • Q23 When a teacher, feels bullied or harassed at your school, is any action generally taken?

  • Always

  • Sometimes

  • Almost Never

  • Never

  • Q24 In what way is action taken and by whom?

  • Q25 Do you feel when action is taken, that the response is effective?

  • Always

  • Sometimes

  • Almost never

  • Never

  • Q26 What type of action do you feel your school could take to more effectively address bullying and harassing behaviour from students and/or their parent/guardians towards teachers?

  • Q27 What is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) score for your school? This will not in any way identify you or your school.

    To view your school’s scores click here (a new window will appear) and enter your school’s details and press view profile. Your school’s ICSEA value will be displayed on the centre of the page next to “School ICSEA value” (If your school value is not available please add NA)

  • Q28 Would you like to participate in a one-hour interview to discuss teachers’ experiences of bullying and harassment in Australian school with one of our researchers?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Q32 Are you currently teaching in a state, independent or Catholic school in Victoria?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Q33 Please add your first name, email and best contact day/time in the box below.

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Fogelgarn, R., Burns, E., Billett, P. (2019). Teacher-Targeted Bullying and Harassment in Australian Schools: A Challenge to Teacher Professionalism. In: Gutierrez, A., Fox, J., Alexander, C. (eds) Professionalism and Teacher Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7002-1_9

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