Catherine Crout-Habel, Comment 3 of 31, Workplace bullying an everyday occurrenc

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Catherine Crout-Habel, Comment 3 of 31, 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.

Good teachers are attacked in Australian schools. It is a media blindspot. Historical link preserved from the original page.

Jewel, this is excellent ( see link to Jewel Topsfield's article in The Age below ) but like all articles of its ilk, it has a great omission.

Of course great teachers change lives.

But have you any idea how badly they are treated?

What the public never see is the jealousy and tearing down of teachers when they're singled out by students and/or parents for special commendation.

Please do not write these articles as if teaching is a well-managed, meritocratic field of generous commendation to those who put in the most effort and create the best outcomes.

It is not.

To represent it thus rubs further salt into the wounds of teachers whose lives have been literally destroyed by bullying because they excelled.

Please look at the reality and what a battle it is to pass the road blocks put up by the tall poppy syndrome and the often toxic politics of education workplaces run as personal fiefdoms by entrenched cliques with the credo of, "we decide who will be successful here.

Generally, that means people in their own image who do not have better qualifications or superior work performance.

A lead ceiling is imposed by this and those who surpass it are not tolerated.

How can any education article be written without acknowledging the devastating swathe cut by bullying through this profession, where it is in epidemic proportions?

Teaching and training top all bullying statistics in Australia yet, like the abusive homes used to be blindspotted in our society, the same blindspot applies in media portrayals.

Nobody can work effectively in bullying environments!

1) "Investigation of Staff Bulllying in Australian Schools, " Duncan and Riley, University of New England. Historical link preserved from the original page.

2) Dr Donna-Louise McGrath's work on envy and bullying, including her submission to the parliamentary inquiry on bullying

3) Bad Apple Bullies website - education bullying