Usually teachers know how to deal with classroom bullies. They’re also able to solve bullying incidents on the school grounds and sports fields. When teachers retreat to the staffroom for a soothing cup of tea, they may think they’re entering a “bully-free” zone, but they might be wrong.
A staffroom can have bullies, too. The bullying might not be physical in nature, although a Gauteng principal was attacked by teachers during a national teacher strike. Staffroom bullying can be subtle and not so visible.
Unresolved bullying can have negative consequences for the victim. The teacher can be emotionally traumatised. Mental breakdown and physical ill-health can result. The victim might even leave the teaching profession. The school can suffer too. Bullied teachers often try to cope by staying away, resulting in absenteeism. They also try to get work in another school where bullying is dealt with effectively.
What form does staff bullying take? Research done in Britain among 541 teachers (Times Educational Supplement, November 2008) identified 10 major forms of bullying:
10 signs that you’re being bullied:
Unmanageable workload;
Opinions ignored;
Feeling excluded;
Withheld information;
Hostile reaction on approach;
Persistent criticism;
Repeated reminders of errors;
Humiliation or ridicule;
Excessive monitoring; and
Given work below level of competence.
Bullying is also common in South African staffrooms. Other forms of bullying include (www.bullyonline.org):
Spreading rumours or gossip about a person;
Removing areas of responsibility without reasonable explanation;
Giving a person an impossible deadline for completion of a task;
Blocking applications for leave, promotion or training; and
Undermining or deliberately impeding a person’s work.
Another form of bullying is regulation bullying. These bullies make others comply blindly with rules and regulations even when there are better ways of doing things. Such bullies go a step further if their instructions aren’t carried out. They resort to legal bullying. Threats are made of legal action, such as being charged, a commission of inquiry or a written warning.
A quote by Harvey S Firestone for the bullied person to reflect on is: “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself.”
Ways of dealing with bullying
Talk to a colleague, family member or friend who can act as a sounding board to ensure the victim isn’t exaggerating the situation. That person can give advice on how to “handle” (no violence, please) the bully.
Record instances of bullying. Make a note of date, time and witnesses.
Try to hold a meeting with the bully. Aim to have an amicable ending. State your points and be a good listener. Find common ground on how to go forward together.
If bullying continues, talk to a senior staff member. Usually the matter is solved at this stage.
Should bullying persist, discuss the matter with your teacher union representative on the staff. In extreme cases the matter can become a written grievance dealt with by the district office of the education department. (This applies to state schools.)
Quality schools strive to create a positive organisational climate or “vibe”. Every staff member has a role to play in creating a bully-free workplace. Mutual respect is shown irrespective of a colleague’s culture, ethnicity, race or sexual orientation. Gossip is avoided and each teacher displays friendliness, helpfulness and cooperation.
The senior management team needs to be able to say “yes” to these questions:
Does every staff member understand that there is zero tolerance for bullying?
Are staff aware of the procedures to follow if bullied?
Are complaints of bullying dealt with in an emotionally intelligent, prompt and decisive manner?
Is there a fair workload allocation according to a person’s abilities?
Are there social functions (such as braais and lunches) so that staff can get to know and respect one another?
No staffroom is totally free of bullying. Isolated incidents happen. But, quality-focused staffrooms are happy places filled with laughter. A staffroom should be a place where everyone has bought into a simple principle: bullying is out.
The South African Quality Institute has school leadership and management programmes. Poor schools are sponsored. Contact Vanessa du Toit on 012 349 5006 or Richard Hayward on 011 888 3262. Email [email protected] or [email protected]