It is my experience that no matter how competent, experienced, or well credentialed an educator might be if your face doesn't fit you may as well look elsewhere if you're a teacher dedicated to teaching students.
I've heard of teachers targeted
because of their teaching competency, their popularity with students and staff.
I'm speaking of the jealous and vindictive narcissist other, who cannot accept
nor appreciate those by whom they are threatened.
A narcissist inclined person at
a school I've heard of could not contemplate that a colleague could be so
popular, vivacious, and highly respected amongst staff, students, and parents.
They intentionally set out to undermine and besmirch the character of their
target. How was this done? The narcissist protagonist surfed the internet to
get background information on their quarry, downloaded pictures and passed them
on to leadership. This information was used to bully and intimidate them. I'm
told they were slut shamed to put them and keep them in their place according
to several others. They sought professional help and was placed on medication
for depression as related by the victim to others.
This is one strategy employed
by leadership in tandem with sycophant allies in the school setting to target
and victimise the unsuspecting victim, especially when the victim is on
contract and therefore is in a position of weakness.
The preferred and favoured
staff member was one of many informants, like minded 'friends' who would report
back to the principal through the preferred other who held sway over the
principal who regarded them with fondness and who treated them preferentially.
This favoured other would often say that the principal 'will do what I tell them to do'
such was the power and influence they wielded.
Other means were used against
unsuspecting others who were on the outer so to speak because e.g., their
exceptional skills and capabilities, took the limelight away from the teacher
informant. The teacher informant and tell-tale colleagues would make up, concoct
stories about others, telling leadership about things that didn't happen. Or
CCTV was used to monitor targeted staff, to obtain information that would be
used against them e.g., to suggest they look elsewhere for their next
appointment.
One person relates how the
favoured other would often walk past their classroom and just look in the
window or stand at the door and move on. They would then go to leadership and
report on anything they had ‘observed.’ Rumours were put about suggesting that
the highly competent target teacher's classroom was e.g., untidy, dirty and
that they were not 'team' players because of whatever reason they decided to
make up.
It is reported that the
targeted teacher became ill, felt like vomiting
whenever the bully colleague walked by. They didn't go to the staffroom and it
was traumatising to go to the bathroom as they had to pass by or be in the view
of those who were bullying and intimidating them. They spoke in whispers when
talking with trusted others in case others heard what they said. They would sit
in their car in the carpark dry reaching at the thought of having to expose
themselves to the malice of the bullies they had to work with. Several
colleagues related that this teacher was traumatised and they had grave
concerns for their wellbeing. The harm experienced by this teacher was
targeted, intentional and sustained.
Teachers bully teachers and use whatever means at their disposal to engineer a world that suits and favours them. They employ others to do their bidding by favouring them and rewarding them e.g., making sure they get contracts, using the school budget for gifts to reward their loyalty. Yes, this happens in schools. Bullying is an accepted way to establish and maintain an order that suits a small group of privileged others.
Professional bullying in schools
