I don’t understand why parents can’t be subject to the kinds of consequences their children are for bullying and harassment. Parents who set up internet groups and Facebook pages to spread untruths about their childs’ teacher should be punished for their actions. Anything from a warning to in the most serious offences expulsion of their child from school is appropriate.
Some may think this is a bit harsh and that children should not be penalised for the deeds of their parents, but bullying is a very serious offence and schools that take it seriously reap the rewards by maintaining a safe environment. Schools are too dismissive of parents who bully teachers. Teachers often feel marginalised and lacking of support. The statement that bullying of any kind will result in strong penalties is essential to delivering the best outcomes from an academic and social standpoint.
Bullying like this should not be tolerated:
Teachers are the latest group found to be at risk of cyber-bullying, according to a recent report.
The study by Professor Andy Phippen found several instances where teachers had been targeted for abuse by social media users on websites such as Facebook and Twitter.
One head teacher interviewed for the study said she had a breakdown and was left feeling suicidal.
The headteacher suffered a year of abuse by a parent at her school who used a Google group to post libellous untruths about her and her school. “I eventually had a mini breakdown in the summer holiday, needing an emergency doctor to be called out as I had become suicidal,” she told researchers.
The message should ring loud and clear – Either play by our rules or find somewhere else to send your kids!
Tags: Bullying, Cyberbullying, Education, facebook, Google group, Law, life, Parenting, Professor Andy Phippen, School, Schools, social media, Teachers, Teaching, Twitter
Topical Teaching 
August 16, 2011 at 7:47 am |
Complicating the problem is that influential people have influence even beyond what you have described to hurt the teacher even to the point where persecution becomes prosecution. Administrators can be supportive or hang you out to dry esp. when a friend would like your position. School board members tend to placate parents at the expense of the teacher because they a collecting votes for reelection. For the most part, my 33 years in the Miami Dade system was characterized by a near absolute non participation with parents. Immigrant populations seldom connect with schools. .