Workplace Cyberbullying: The Case of Teachers' Experience

This chapter discusses cyberbullying of teachers. The deteriorating status of teachers is shown with the consequences of more student violence towards teachers. With the increase in technology use and subsequent ability to abuse teachers, students and parents can now also cyberbully teachers. An Australian study of the prevalence of cyberbullying of teacher is presented. There is some evidence of the prevalence and impact of cyberbullying of adults in the workplace, however, there are few studies that have examined cyberbullying of teachers by students and parents. We do not know how teachers are affected by cyberbullying in these instances, in terms of wellbeing and ability to work, but also the impact on teachers’ social media involvement. This chapter examines the frequency and impact of cyberbullying on secondary school teachers in Australia when students and parents were the perpetrators. Additionally, the study looked at whether the threat of cyberbullying led to changes in social media involvement. A 16-item survey was conducted online using Key Survey with advertisements posted in Australian Education Union Newsletters and later through Facebook. Completed surveys were returned by 129 teachers with 24% (31) indicating they had been cyberbullied by students or parents in their role as a secondary school teacher. The survey included a definition of cyberbullying and asked about participants’ experience of cyberbullying by parents and students (including ex-students) and the impact this had on their wellbeing and ability to work. Teachers who were cyberbullied were more concerned about future cyberbullying than those who had not been cyberbullied. The most common medium for cyberbullying was Facebook followed by phone, email and the Rate My Teacher website. Those who were bullied by both parents and students showed a greater negative impact on wellbeing and ability to work, than those who were bullied by students only. Participants who were cyberbullied reporte