Some Teachers Face Online Bullying From Parents…
Teaching is a rewarding career but even in ideal conditions, it’s a challenging job. Spending so much time preparing for classes, marking children’s work and doing all the admin which is now required of them – they shouldn’t have to face being abused or bullied on social media.
60% of the 1,500 teachers who responded to a NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers) survey reported that abusive comments had been posted about them on social media sites by pupils and parents, compared with just 21% in 2014.
An article in the Independent reports that teachers are increasingly being bullied online by their pupils’ parents – with growing numbers receiving personal insults and even threats.
What’s Cyber Bullying?
It seems that with the progress in technology comes a progression in the way people can torment one another. It used to be that bullying was face-to-face in the school playing ground.
Today’s children and sadly, their parents, can use the internet to bully in a way that has been termed cyber bullying.
Cyber bullying is when a child, teenager or even an adult is harassed, threatened, humiliated, or otherwise targeted for abuse using the internet – usually on a smartphone.
Cyber bullying can include posting mean, vulgar, or derogatory comments about a person online.
Other examples include sending embarrassing photos of someone through email or text message, or any other inappropriate act against another person, using a digital communication device.
Victims are often targeted and tormented relentlessly. The ease of which information is shared on the internet makes committing acts of cyber bullying child’s play.
Cyber bullying often occurs repeatedly and is usually not a onetime event and will likely not stop on its own. All the attention that it can bring is a motivator for cyber bullies to carry on.
How To Stop Cyber Bullying
Schools should have an anti-bullying policy in place which covers teachers as well as students. Any anti-bullying policy should set out clear procedures for dealing with cyber bullying.
Here’s a few things to remember if you encounter a cyber bully:
Don’t be quick to retaliate – A reaction is exactly what cyber bullies are looking for because they think it gives them power over you.
Record any evidence – Bullying online or on phones can usually be captured, saved, and shown to someone who can help.
Reach out for help – See if there’s someone who can listen, help you process what’s going on and work through it.
Use technology tools wisely – Whether the bullying in an app, texting, comments or tagged photos, help yourself and block the person.
Report any threatening behaviour – You should call your local police if you’re getting threats of physical harm, and consider report it to the school authorities – every school should have a duty of care for its employees and a policy for dealing with bullying.
Legal action is usually a last resort but teachers who’ve been innocent victims of cyber bullying can approach their union for advice, on the legal options available to them.
Parents Should Set A Better Example
Normally it’s the parents that play a key role in preventing children from being involved in cyber bullying by working with the school and closely monitoring their children’s online activity.
Children are often not really aware of the damage and the ramifications that can occur as a result of cyber bullying but their parents should know better. Adults should be identified. If the bullying breaks the law – then the authorities can have them traced.
If cyber bullying is harassing, threatening, or pornographic in nature then the authorities should be contacted. This type of bullying may be illegal and legal action may be taken.
Is it OK for students and parents to write what they want on social media about teachers or should a school have a zero-tolerance policy on cyber bullying?
Please tell us your own views, ideas or experiences below:
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