Teachers' experiences of workplace bullying in independent schools

Abstract

Workplace bullying in education is on the rise and there is limited literature on teachers being bullied in South African schools. This study will investigate teachers’ experiences regarding workplace bullying. The research aims to explore the role of work relationships (as power relationships) and how the environment/ or situations in which it occurs, contribute to the bullying. With Hodson’s two dimensional model of bullying as a conceptual framework, data will be gathered through the use of semi-structured interviews with teachers from different IEB schools in Gauteng. This qualitative phenomenological research asks open-ended research questions during interviews. The researcher works from an interpretative viewpoint, but in a deductive manner to determine the similarities and differences between teachers’ experiences. The study also aims to determine the factors that contributed to teachers being bullied in the workplace. Recommendations are made to assist schools in avoiding situations where teachers are likely to be bullied and suggestions are made on how to support teachers who are at risk of being bullied.