When the teacher is the bully
“But what if it’s the teacher who screams, threatens, or uses biting sarcasm to humiliate a child in front of the class?” asks Katherine Kam, a writer at WebMD. What if the teacher is the bully?
Stuart Twemlow, MD, psychiatrist and director of the Peaceful Schools and Communities Project conducted a study on teacher bullying. “Using power to punish, manipulate, or disparage a student beyond what would be a reasonable disciplinary procedure,” is how Twemlow defines teacher bullying. He anonymously surveyed 116 teachers and 45% admitted to bullying a student.
“A bullying teacher can be described as one who uses the imbalance of power to intentionally harm students physically, emotionally, or socially,” as stated at www.educationworld.com.
In 2011, the Columbus Dispatch newspaper reported that a Fayette County school district paid $300,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the mother of a 14 year-old special needs student who was bullied by her teacher and classroom aide. The verbal bullying was caught on a secret audio-taping. Two stories in 2014 reported a teacher in Franklin County lost his license for bullying students and a substitute teacher in Cuyahoga County was charged after bullying a 14 year-old developmentally disabled boy in gym class.
“Students aren’t the only ones bullying in schools. Teachers, principals, and parents bully too. Together they create a bullying culture that strikes at the heart of effective learning and teaching,” writes Les Parsons in his book, Bullied Teacher: Bullied Student.
Teachers can be involved in bullying in three ways: as observers, as perpetrators, and as victims according to www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-teachers.html.
“Bullying teachers can act by using degrading words and treatment, as well as physical punishments. Other school employees besides teachers can bully students, including coaches, custodians, security personnel, and the front office staff, even the principal.”
What happens when a teacher bullies the entire class? Teachers are in positions of authority and students may accept bullying behaviors. Adolescent students who tell may not be believed by adults or may fear teacher retaliation in lowered grades or fear group humiliation.
Deborah Serani, a psychologist, gives ten tips to parents for dealing with a teacher who bullies.
1) Listen attentively to your child about the bullying and validate emotions.
2) Tell your child that shame and humiliation are not acceptable ways of treating another human being.
3) Support your child but tell her/him you will address the hurtful bullying behavior.
4) Inform your child that you’ll be speaking with the teacher to open up a dialogue about the situation in order to solve the bullying situation.
5) When confronting the teacher, remain calm.
6) Document your interventions. If the bullying continues it’s time to contact the school administration.
7) If the bullying continues and accommodations have not been made for your child, then contact the Superintendent and school board.
8) Consider a school transfer if you cannot find help from any of these strategies.
9) File a complaint to the state licensing board.
10) Consider professional counseling for your child if the bullying causes significant distress.
Research studies on teachers who bully students are lacking. The Ohio Department of Education website has lots of information on peers who bully peers, but I could not find one article about what to do if a teacher or a principal bullies a student.
While most teachers enjoy being with kids, like their jobs, and are hard-working individuals with purpose and passion; unfortunately there are some teachers who bully students. Alas, there are bullies in every profession that has power over others including the mental health profession. “…bullying originated with an imbalance of power,” according to Leah Hollis, author of Bullying in the Ivory Tower.
Parents need to consistently dialogue with their children about school days and school happenings. Yes, adolescents gripe about teachers and schoolwork; however bullying is a pattern of unprovoked abuse.
Dr. Missy, Ph.D., is a feelings helper, child therapist, play therapist, and child trauma therapist. She provides therapeutic services at Affirmations, Columbus, Ohio.
