Tackling Cyberbullying of Teachers – a UK Perspective

Tackling Cyberbullying of Teachers – a UK Perspective Jennifer Moses National Official (Equality and Training) NASUWT

Background – Violence in Schools • EU Survey 2000: • 4% of education workers experienced violence at work; • 12% subjected to intimidation • ATL (UK) Survey • Nearly a quarter of teachers intimidated by parents or carers

UK Statistics on violence against teachers • In each year from 1996 to 2000, about 28 out of every 1,000 teachers were the victims of violent crime at school; • 3 out of every 1,000 were victims of serious violent crime (i.e., rape, sexual assault, robbery) • Male teachers are more than twice as likely to be victims of violent crime • Violence against teachers is also higher at urban schools

UK Newspaper articles • Teacher poisoned by pupil loses claim for damages (Guardian UK, June 2009) • Boy, 5, planned to use knife on teacher (Guardian UK, October 2008)

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work “Violence at work is any incident where a person is abused, threatened, or assaulted at their work, and which endangers their safety, health, well-being or work performance…….Violence to staff is an occupational safety and health issue and should be dealt with at the organisational level”

NASUWT Safe to Teach? Survey 2007 • 5,863 respondents • 67% respondents subjected to bullying or harassment at work; • 66% of females and 72% of males; • Teachers in Secondary schools more likely to be bullied (76%) • Primary 41%

NASUWT Safe to Teach? Survey • More than half (52%) bullied or harassed by pupils; • 23% bullied by their manager • 16% bullied by their colleagues • More than one in six (17%) female teachers suffered sexist abuse • Male teachers more likely to suffer from racist bullying

Defining the problem of Cyberbullying • A tool of the bully; • Affects pupils and school staff alike; • Abuse of ICT; • Impact on teaching and learning; • Vehicle for prejudice-related bullying, harassment and false allegations

Extent of the problem – NASUWT cases “I was threatened by a number of pupils on Bebo. The Senior Management team did nothing about this. Two months later I was physically assaulted in class ” Male Secondary school teacher

Extent of the problem….. “a pupil took my photo and added a joint (drugs) to it. He showed it in class. I took the phone to the Head who asked if I would agree to pass it to police…” Female secondary teacher

Extent of the problem….. “Student sent an email to the address I have set up for parents and students saying very sexually explicit things he wanted to do to me and me to him. I was devastated and did not want to return the next day to school”. Female secondary teacher

Extent of the problem….. “Phone pictures were taken of my sweaty back and posted on RatemyTeacher. I am menopausal. Ratemyteacher has been used to discuss me a whole year after I had left and also used my first name.” Female Secondary school teacher

Prejudice Related Bullying • Abusive behaviour linked to gender, gender identify, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, age, religion or belief, body image/size; • Not just a problem for schools; • 67% of teachers experienced prejudice related bullying at work – 52% committed by pupils

Should school staff suffer in silence? • Rights and protections from harassment, discrimination and employers duty of care; • Potential for false allegations; • Costs on schools in terms of workload, high staff turnover and sickness • Impact on ethos and culture of the school community.

What schools can do • Robust policies and practice – whole school community approach; • Training for all staff and governors; • Safe and secure equipment and ICT systems; • Advice to staff on Personal protections

What is in your School Behaviour Policy? • Whole school approach – involvement of unions, parents, all staff, pupils; • What does it say about cyberbullying? • Acceptable use policies – eg Use of mobile phones; • Specific reference to prejudice-related bullying;

What is in your School Behaviour policy? • Reporting and recording mechanisms; • Monitoring incidents of bullying; • Process for policy review and development; • How is the policy communicated to parents, staff, pupils and governors?

NASUWT campaign and action against bullying • Online survey of members; • Letter and dossier of cases to Minister for Education 2007; • Anti Bullying Alliance National advisory committee; • Work with Young Anti Bullying Alliance;

NASUWT Campaign and action….. • Government Cyberbullying Taskforce; • Contribution to Government guidance to schools on Cyberbullying, eg ‘Safe to Learn’ guidance; • High profile Stop Cyberbullying campaign – posters, wristbands; • Campaigning for greater protections in law.

Thank you for listening! NASUWT Website www.nasuwt.org.uk

Tackling Cyberbullying of Teachers – a UK Perspective