Teachers as Bullies?

Abstract

Many school children have been subjected to traumatic experiences in school that have significantly effected their social adjustment in the classroom setting and their overall psychological and emotional status. The literature generally considers school victims to be bullied by peers, however, it has been demonstrated that some trauma to students in schools involves teachers and other school personnel (Hyman & Snook, 2000). Temple University, USA, have initiated a cross – national study to explore student victimization by educators and peers with emphasis on intra and inter-sample aspects of the types of traumatic stressors experienced by students. The goal of this study is to extend our knowledge of school trauma beyond a basic understanding of specific situations and locations to a more comprehensive and global view of the types of traumas experienced by children at school.