A Reader's Comment: A little respect: attracting top teachers is not rocket science, Jane Caro, The Drum, Opinion, ABC, 4 October 2012: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4293550.html Historical link preserved from the original page.
Graeme Sleeman, former principal, Holy Family School, Doveton: "the Catholic Church destroyed his name and his integrity after he reported child abuse concerns".
Graeme Sleeman, a former principal of Holy Family school at Doveton, complained about the behaviour of Father Peter Searson, who was suspected of s-xu-l molestation and seen visiting the boys toilets several times a day in the early 1990's.
Mr Sleeman says the Catholic Church destroyed his name and integrity because of it.
Mr Sleeman resigned from the school because nothing was being done about Searson.
Mr Sleeman said he was unable to get another job as a teacher.
A group of teachers from Holy Family school at visited Cardinal George Pell, who was then bishop for the southern area of Melbourne, to make a complaint, one former teacher Carmel Rafferty told the the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into abuse in religious organisations on Wednesday.
The principal authorised the three year five and six teachers to make a deputation to the area bishop for the south eastern area at the time, who was Bishop Pell, to advise him of danger to children and the need to remove the priest, " she said.
Asked if anything happened after the visit to Pell, Ms Rafferty said she did not hear about anything happening.
Ms Rafferty said there was a culture of "collusion, cover up and gross negligence" throughout the Catholic system.
Baker was jailed for four years with a non-parole period of two years in 1999 after he admitted s-xu-lly abusing eight boys between the ages of 10 and 12 between 1960 and 1979.
Pell told 'priest posed danger' to kids, Daniel Fogarty, AAP, 23 January 2013: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/church-leader-evasive-on-abuse-inquiry/story-e6freono-1226560005243 Historical link preserved from the original page.
52 year-old teacher at independent "Christian" school: submission 218 to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Workplace Bullying.
Submission 218 to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Workplace bullying is by a 52 year-old (male, I am guessing) teacher was teaching at an independent "Christian" school: S. T (PDF 917KB)
The teacher has a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Laws and Masters of Education degrees.
He was employed as Head of Faculty.
He was bullied at work for two years.
His doctor advised him to take extended leave for the sake of his health.
The teacher did not immediately seek Workers Compensation.
He took sick leave and trusted naively that his complaint would be independently investigated.
When it became clear that this was not going to happen, he sought WorkCover in order to secure an independent investigation.
The independent investigator employed by the schools insurer, and the psychiatrist appointed by the insurer both supported the teacher's claims.
But there seems to be no internal or external incentive for an organisation to examine or change its culture to prevent further instances of bullying.
The only opportunity a victim in my situation has of gaining recognition and appropriate compensation is to be declared totally unfit for employment with a whole person incapacity exceeding 15%.
As a mature worker living in a regional area, he is left with very few opportunities.
He has been told that he is now blacklisted at other independent schools because he has made the workplace bullying complaint.
The culture at Independent schools is that the staff member who alleges bullying is more likely to be the problem than the bullies.
A High School teacher: submission 189 to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Workplace Bullying.
Submission 189 to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Workplace Bullying is written by a female High School teacher who began working for an un-named Australian state government in 1975: K. B (PDF 590KB) Historical link preserved from the original page.
In 1993 she was transferred.
When she was first appointed to her new school, she felt valued.
But then the principal's behaviour towards her changed.
He became verbally abusive.
Departmental officers seem to have been aware of the principal's problem behaviour.
The teacher endured the abuse till the principal's retirement.
A new principal was appointed.
This new principal had no time for long-established staff.
In 2002 "things started to unravel".
Students were removed from her classes.
The teacher was told that there had been complaints, but she was never allowed to respond to the complaints.
She decided to relinquish her position as teacher in charge of drama because of these problems.
In 2003 the teacher was exhausted by having to continually 'watch her back'.
During 2004 the principal called her to the office.
The teacher had spent the previous Friday night and all of Saturday in the school, running a school performance for parents.
She was exhausted.
The principal told her "many of the staff believe you don't care about the students".
The teacher was deeply shocked.
The earth gave way under me.
She went to the union.
They were not helpful.
She applied for a transfer.
She was sent into a tough environment and her "reputation" went with her.
Throughout 1995- 2005 there were many, many incidents.
Her health was affected.
When I woke at night, I would go into the garden to weep so my daughter wouldn't hear me.
In October 2005 she collapsed - physically, psychologically, emotionally.
In February 2006, while she was on sick leave, she was diagnised with breast cancer.
She was reluctant to agree to retire on the grounds that she was mentally ill.
She filed a Worker's Compensation claim.
Very critical reports were written about her.
The night I read them I thought I would stop breathing.
When the Workers Compensation claim went to a Tribunal hearing, the lawyer appointed by the union attended but no-one from the Australian Education Union attended. Historical link preserved from the original page.
The Australian Education union never contacted her again. Historical link preserved from the original page.
She wrote to tell the AEU she was shocked by their lack of support.
The AEU did not reply.
I was so alone and wherever I turned for help made things worse, much worse.
My life was destroyed.
I struggle financially and this has had a further detrimental effect on my overall welfare.
I live in a small town. It has been humiliating for me. My relationships with friends and family suffered.
I cannot give my daughter the financial support she needs.
I didn't just lose a job. I lost a whole part of myself. I miss it deeply.
This feeling of loss will be with me always.
The Department of Education is an unsafe workplace.
Special Education Teacher: submission 94 to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Workplace Bullying.
Special Education Teacher A made submission number 94 to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Workplace Bullying: H. M (PDF 946KB)
Teacher A was bullied by a senior staff member at her Special Education Unit during Term 1 2011.
Teacher A discovered documentary evidence that somebody had lied during the investigation into her complaint.
This lie had rendered the investigation unbalanced and unjust.
The CEO cut off all channels of communication with Teacher A.
The Regional Director then "followed the CEO's directive" and also refused to communicate with teacher A.
The problem continued.
In Term 1 2012 Teacher B went on stress leave because of workplace bullying (seems to be by the same person).
Teachers from across the nation have made submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Workplace Bullying.
99.6% of educators have endured some form of workplace bullying according to the Australian Education Union. Historical link preserved from the original page.
Many teachers' submissions point to principals as the prime perpetrator.
Teachers' submissions have revealed a culture of character assassination, threats and spying within our schools.
Stories reveal teachers pursued by their superiors until they break down and transfer or quit the profession all together.
One teacher asked the committee: "How can we stop bullying of students when even the teachers are bullied? "
Heartfelt submissions to a federal parliamentary inquiry into workplace bullying document screaming matches, character assassination, threats and spying.
Some teachers contemplate suicide.
Teachers who stand up for colleagues risk being bullied themselves and overlooked for promotion, according to the submissions.
Victims say government departments and non-government school superiors do everything they can to protect the bullies.
The bullies are often in positions of power.
One South Australian special education teacher said a campaign against her began when she mandatorily reported her principal for emotionally abusing students. Historical link preserved from the original page.
A New South Wales public school teacher said she developed an anxiety disorder and her 24-year career was in tatters after a group of women, led by a head teacher, bullied her.
A rural Victorian college teacher said her principal was verbally abusive back-stabbing, made unfounded accusations and physically threatened his staff, despite 10 formal complaints against him.
A former high school teacher said she contemplated suicide after "three years of hell" at the hands of her principal.
When I woke at night, I would go into the garden to weep so my daughter wouldn't hear me.
The AEU said bullying was clearly not the "infrequent behaviour of a few bad apples" -
- c omplaints procedures are biased towards management and preserving the status quo.
Editor's Note: It is really good to see that the Australian Education Union is prepared to tell the truth about this problem. Historical link preserved from the original page.
Will the Queensland Teachers Union tell the truth about the workplace bullying in Queensland schools?
Workplace bullying an everyday occurrence in schools, say teachers, Jessica Marszalek, The Herald-Sun, 23 September 2012: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/workplace-bullying-an-everyday-occurrence-in-schools-say-teachers/story-fndo1sx1-1226479817321 Historical link preserved from the original page.
Ex-teacher: I know of MANY great teachers who were bullied out of the profession.
I used to be a teacher.
I know of MANY great teachers bullied out of the profession.
Others denied promotions.
Bullied by pathetic principals and other teachers who are supported by Departmental garbage.
I know teachers who take days off to attend Professional Development because principals refuse them the right.
Others who do so after hours.
I know of many many schools where teachers are given classes for which they are not qualified and who are refused opportunities to qualify / learn.
I have seen great people abused and lazy good for nothings promoted, basically on the friendship of some who should never have been made principals.
But most people have no idea of how hard teachers work, the stress, the illnesses... badgered for taking lawful paternity leave.
Abused for offering after hours home work classes.
Ordered to pass kids who never submitted work and barely attended classes.
Their cars vandalised and them told by principals not to contact police.
Buying lap tops and books and other resources due to little support at school.
Discriminated against re carer's leave, transfers to other schools, denied promotions... I openly challenge the government to put all of this through an open public but protected inquiry so teachers can speak up with safety.