Teachers bullied to hide problems in schools
Monday, 30 November 2009 15:47
Bruce Flegg MPShadow Minister for Education and TrainingMember for Moggill 30 November 2009Teachers bullied to hide problems in schools
QUEENSLAND teachers are becoming victims as Bligh and Labor try to conceal the extent of disciplinary problems in Queensland Schools.Shadow Minister for Education and Training Bruce Flegg said teachers were being bullied by other teachers to keep quiet about disciplinary problems while Bligh and Labor attempted cover them up.
“Figures released by Education Minister Geoff Wilson show formal complaints of bullying and aggressive behaviour by teachers against other teachers have risen 40 per cent in the last three years,” said Dr Flegg.
“A number of teachers have approached me with concerns about being told to keep quiet about school problems.
“I have no doubt that those who want to bring this issue into the open are being bullied by some of their colleagues in an attempt to keep them silent.
” Dr Flegg said Labor was being sneaky and secretive by refusing to release details of the number of apprehended violence orders against teachers and the number of weapons seized in schools.
“Concerned teachers want the root causes of these problems addressed, but there is pressure being put on them to cover them up,” he said.
“The agenda is about controlling public relations rather than fixing the problem.
“This is a systemic problem that requires action by this Labor government which, as usual, puts spin ahead of substance.”
Formal complaints of bullying of teachers by other teachers:
| Year | Complaints | Total teachers |
| 2007 | 26 | 46,215 |
| 2008 | 30 | 46,981 |
| 2009 to date | 37 | 46,981 |
Media contact: Leonie Shepherd 0414 794 796