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Fifteen per cent of teachers have experienced cyberbullying
5 April 2009
Joint ATL and Teacher Support Network press release
The worrying extent of the use of technology to bully school and college staff was revealed today with the release of survey results by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and Teacher Support Network.
One in seven respondents said they had experienced cyberbullying and almost one in five said they knew of colleagues who had become victims.
A former music teacher in the South West of England said: "It was a horrible experience. Nasty text messages full of abuse may be little things in themselves but after time they meant I couldn't face going into school. I may never go back to my job because no one should be made to feel that bad whatever job they do."
Sixty three per cent of those who had suffered cyberbullying personally said they had received unwelcome emails. Over a quarter had had offensive messages posted about them on social networking sites such as Facebook and 28 per cent described being sent unwelcome text messages.
A modern languages teacher in London said: "Part of the problem was not knowing the extent of it or who was doing it. My inbox was at one point filled with the most hateful and upsetting emails from an anonymous address. I knew there were pictures taken of me in class circulating via a networking site but I was powerless to do anything about it."
The statistics were released ahead of new government guidelines on tacking the phenomenon in schools, to which both organisations contributed.
Cyberbullying has been defined by the DCSF as "the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else."
Although a significant proportion - 44 per cent - had been bullied by pupils, a startling 28 per cent said that a manager or colleague was behind the abuse.
A primary school teacher in London said: "Bullying using mobiles and computers has been discussed in assembly but with the head it was a case of 'do what I say not what I do'. Everyone who works here was emailed several times with two colleagues and me singled out for very nasty criticism. I had emails from a made up address with the head's comments in bold sent to me. After that, walking into the staff room at lunch was like torture."
The effect of cyberbullying on its victims was also laid bare, with 39 per cent saying it reduced their confidence and self-esteem, 25 per cent saying it reduced their effectiveness as a teacher and 6 per cent saying they were forced to take sick leave because of resulting illness or stress.
An English teacher in the West Midlands said: "I found teaching stressful already but when it got to the point where I was getting home and finding messages about me on social networking sites or horrible photos on my computer I couldn't cope. The whole time in class I couldn't concentrate on the lesson because I was trying to work out who was behind it. It put a real strain on me and my relationship with my pupils."
The results also suggested school policies need to be significantly improved, as 62 per cent said that either their school didn't have a policy to address cyberbullying or they were unaware of one. 60 per cent said they had never received advice from their school about protecting themselves online.
A 57-year-old modern languages teacher in London said: "The school just didn't know how to react. They said because it wasn't happening on school property there was nothing they could do. For women my age, we're still trying to keep up with our pupils in many ways. No one at the school could help me in working out how to stop the problem or even just help me deal emotionally."
Seventy four per cent of respondents thought that websites such as YouTube do not do enough to prevent abusive or malicious messages and pictures being uploaded onto their websites.
ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: "Cyber bullying is pernicious and can be hugely damaging to the self-esteem, confidence and reputation of victims. It is not a trivial matter, and needs to be tackled as robustly as all other forms of bullying. We urge all schools and colleges to do more to protect staff and pupils. They all need to have robust policies to deal with cyber bullying and to enforce these rigorously."
Teacher Support Network Chief Executive Patrick Nash said: "What was once a note passed among pupils in the classroom is now posted on the internet for all to see. Cyberbullying must be combated to prevent the tremendous damage it can cause on the wellbeing of both teachers and pupils - and to standards of education for all.
"It's crucial that schools adopt meaningful and effective policies to address the problem and route out cyberbullying - whether it's from pupils, colleagues or school leaders."
View the table of statistics here.
Notes to Editors:
ATL and TSN questioned 539 teachers, lecturers, heads and support staff working in state and independent schools, sixth form and FE colleges around the UK in February and March 2009.
For the ATL press office, please phone 0207 782 1589 or visit the website www.atl.org.uk.
For the Teacher Support Network press office, please phone Joe Williams on 07815511927 or email joe.williams@teachersupport.info.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, head teachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.
ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first-rate research, advice, information and legal advice.
ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). The union is a member of the Social Partnership - working with the UK Government, employers and other unions on education issues. ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.
Teacher Support Network is the independent charity dedicated to improving the wellbeing and effectiveness of training, serving and retired teachers.
Originally the Teachers' Benevolent Fund, Teacher Support Network has evolved to meet the needs of the modern teacher, now providing telephone and online services which offer both preventative and reactive support. Through coaching, counselling, information, money advice and financial support, the charity helps tens of thousands of teachers tackle personal and work-related issues each year.
The Contact Centre can be contacted on 08000 562 561. Staffed by trained counsellors with education expertise, all services are 24-hour, free and confidential.
Teacher Support Online is a secure email-based coaching service for teachers accessible via www.teachersupport.info.
The Press Office at Teacher Support Network can provide journalists:
Quotations, reaction and opinion on a broad-range of educational subjects from our Chief Executive, Patrick Nash.
These will be based on regular contact with teachers across the United Kingdom, detailed surveys and in depth research.
Feature articles, opinion pieces and advice for teachers for publication.
Data on issues effecting teachers generated from thousands of calls and emails to our Support Line and email coaching and advice services.
Data and analysis from regularly-held surveys on issues affecting teachers.
Anonymous case studies from teachers detailing real-life situations, powerfully demonstrating how issues are affecting teachers.
In some situations, teachers willing to talk to the press directly, on a named or unnamed basis, about their experiences.