Menu
12/02/2007
NI teachers suffer cyber-bullying
A large number of teachers in Northern Ireland are suffering cyber-bullying from pupils and their parents, it has today emerged.
The Teachers Support Network and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, who carried out the survey, has said that incidents of bullying have been reported as happening by mobile phone or over the internet.
It is understood that silent phone-calls, upsetting emails, unwelcome text messages and chat rooms, were used as bullying tactics.
The two organisations called on the Department of Education to ensure that anti-bullying policies include such incidents and that they are dealt with accordingly.
Mark Langhammer, ATL's director in Northern Ireland said that cyber-bullying is an insidious and growing problem in our schools and colleges that goes beyond the school gate.
"Our survey shows that for all its benefits, information technology is allowing pupils and parents to bully teachers and lecturers from afar by phone, email and the internet, exposing them to public humiliation, damaging their good reputation and taking away their professional pride and confidence."
Calling for government action the two bodies also asked mobile and internet providers to better protect teachers by providing easily accessible complaints procedures to register concerns.
Fern Turner, Regional Officer at the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "There are teachers whose whole professional reputation is being challenged on these sites.
"What we are told is that the network providers monitor the sites and take off material which they feel is inappropriate.
"While people can say anything and write anything, the victims can't actually address or challenge it."
(EF/SP)
The Teachers Support Network and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, who carried out the survey, has said that incidents of bullying have been reported as happening by mobile phone or over the internet.
It is understood that silent phone-calls, upsetting emails, unwelcome text messages and chat rooms, were used as bullying tactics.
The two organisations called on the Department of Education to ensure that anti-bullying policies include such incidents and that they are dealt with accordingly.
Mark Langhammer, ATL's director in Northern Ireland said that cyber-bullying is an insidious and growing problem in our schools and colleges that goes beyond the school gate.
"Our survey shows that for all its benefits, information technology is allowing pupils and parents to bully teachers and lecturers from afar by phone, email and the internet, exposing them to public humiliation, damaging their good reputation and taking away their professional pride and confidence."
Calling for government action the two bodies also asked mobile and internet providers to better protect teachers by providing easily accessible complaints procedures to register concerns.
Fern Turner, Regional Officer at the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "There are teachers whose whole professional reputation is being challenged on these sites.
"What we are told is that the network providers monitor the sites and take off material which they feel is inappropriate.
"While people can say anything and write anything, the victims can't actually address or challenge it."
(EF/SP)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 November 2024
All NI Schools To Have Defibrillators By End Of Academic Year
All schools in Northern Ireland will be provided with life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by the end of the current academic year.
All NI Schools To Have Defibrillators By End Of Academic Year
All schools in Northern Ireland will be provided with life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by the end of the current academic year.
14 November 2024
Minister Reacts To Teachers' Union Ballot Threat
Education Minister Paul Givan has responded to the announcement by several teachers' unions that they plan to ballot their members for industrial action over 2024/25 pay. Earlier this year, the Minister provided funding to successfully resolve the long-running industrial dispute over teachers' pay for 2021-24.
Minister Reacts To Teachers' Union Ballot Threat
Education Minister Paul Givan has responded to the announcement by several teachers' unions that they plan to ballot their members for industrial action over 2024/25 pay. Earlier this year, the Minister provided funding to successfully resolve the long-running industrial dispute over teachers' pay for 2021-24.
21 September 2011
O'Dowd Hits Back On Classroom Jobs
Fears over an apparent lack of job opportunities for newly qualified teachers have been in focus this week. It has been claimed that as many as 95% of new teachers are unable to secure full time jobs. That's according to a DUP MLA who underlined the claim when MLAs debated the concerns over the number of new teachers at Stormont.
O'Dowd Hits Back On Classroom Jobs
Fears over an apparent lack of job opportunities for newly qualified teachers have been in focus this week. It has been claimed that as many as 95% of new teachers are unable to secure full time jobs. That's according to a DUP MLA who underlined the claim when MLAs debated the concerns over the number of new teachers at Stormont.
04 April 2023
NI Teachers Announce Strike Action For 26 April
Teachers from five teaching unions across NI have announced that they will take strike action on Wednesday 26 April, over the failure to offer teachers and Further Education lecturers a fair and decent pay award.
NI Teachers Announce Strike Action For 26 April
Teachers from five teaching unions across NI have announced that they will take strike action on Wednesday 26 April, over the failure to offer teachers and Further Education lecturers a fair and decent pay award.
23 October 2002
Report reveals 4 out of 10 pupils bullied at primary school
A report published today has found that 40% of primary school pupils have been bullied in the past year. The Department of Education (DE) research into the nature and extent of bullying in schools in the province also found that 30% of post-primary pupils has also suffered bullying.
Report reveals 4 out of 10 pupils bullied at primary school
A report published today has found that 40% of primary school pupils have been bullied in the past year. The Department of Education (DE) research into the nature and extent of bullying in schools in the province also found that 30% of post-primary pupils has also suffered bullying.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
