I am a distraught teacher who has been mistreated, but who can I turn to for help?

Jul 06, 2018 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
I am a distraught teacher who feels that the treatment meted out to me by some officials at the Department of Education Region 4 has been discriminatory to the point where I believe that I cannot approach this department on any work-related issue.
The bad relationship started after I requested a transfer from my school – this department is responsible for such matters. A senior official asked for my reasons for the request. I told her that my workplace was very far from where I live and that I felt uncomfortable at my school, mainly due to the Headteacher’s attitude towards me.
The official informed me that transportation issues were not valid reasons for a transfer and I had to put in writing why I felt victimized by the Headteacher. I did this, and after reading my letter, the official stated that I was a rude person, the Headmistress (HM) was not victimizing me and I didn’t know the meaning of the word.
After that, I was body-shamed by this woman who wanted to turn the spotlight on me. She said that my skirt, with a hemline below the knee, was too tight and I was forced to stand up, turn around and show the other persons (including a former student of mine who was the secretary) in her office, my derrière. I didn’t want to do this and was left in tears. Is this the proper manner in which Education officials should treat teachers?
Editor, if a woman has a voluptuous/curvy body and is wearing her size, the shape of her body will be outlined, women are not flat from all angles. Basic science teaches that on the female body fat is deposited on certain areas. Unless a woman is wearing loose robes or a bag, it is impossible to hide her figure. However, this is just reflective of our society which views women’s bodies as dirty and the scapegoat for the bad behaviour of others.
This is sad, especially coming from educators who should teach boys, future men, to respect women, regardless of clothing, and not view females as sexual objects but persons. I do feel though that the focus on me was done to embarrass, and for me to drop the issue, a simple, “Miss, your skirt is too tight”, would have sufficed without the shaming.
The issue with my Headteacher is that on numerous occasions, which I have documented, she humiliated me in the presence of my colleagues, students and their parents. This is highly unprofessional behaviour on her part. The psychological abuse led to my authority being undermined in the classroom and some colleagues disrespecting me.
Twice, I was even informed while at the Department of Education that letters were sent by the HM requesting disciplinary action be taken against me. I was never shown nor given copies of those letters before they were sent off. This was unprofessional of the HM and the officials knew. Also, the reasons presented were without merit, based on trivial issues, and the HM didn’t have a leg to stand on.
My biggest grievance is that due to the officials refusing to listen to my side of the story and due to their attitude, the Department of Education Region 4 is off-limits to me. For instance, when I highlighted that the HM confronted and humiliated me in front of colleagues and the students (the school does not have classrooms, it is an open plan) I was told that the HM can speak to me wherever she felt like, and that I am a junior teacher.
Apparently, as a junior teacher I am expected to be a model of perfection and submissiveness while the HM can behave unprofessionally and like a bully, therefore, any complaint is view as an act of ‘insubordination’ – the most easily accessible and overused word by the officials of the Department of Education Region 4.
I also feel victimised because I am not treated the same as my colleagues. For instance, many little matters are dealt with and concluded right within the office of the HM, yet trivial issues concerning me are overblown and letters sent off to the Education Department.
Even the simplest administrative issue is troublesome to deal with. For example, when it was my turn for Whitley Council, I was forced to contact the Department because of the HM. Now, even a simple job letter from the school for an educational pursuit is denied, but if I complain I would be labelled as insubordinate.
Due to the biased emphasis placed on my every action, I am being viewed as a troublemaker and ‘crazy teacher’ because I am apparently always the perpetrator and never treated badly. Why? Because the administration of the school does not recognise that another person can be disrespectful to me. On several occasions I was verbally abused by a few teachers ‘in the open’ yet never received a simple ‘sorry’.
Even sexual harassment is overlooked. A female worker groped me in the presence of teachers. I am not friendly with this woman whom I noticed would touch the backsides and breasts of her ‘friends’. I however, never indicated to this lady that I was okay with this.
When I complained to the DHM I didn’t even get an apology from the groper. Later, the groper verbally abused me in the presence of students and teachers. In a meeting I raised both issues, yet still did not get an apology and at the end of the meeting the focus turned on me. I was accused of not having class control!
The last time the HM took me for disciplinary action at the Department of Education Region 4, I told the officials that I do not feel that I am being treated fairly when compared to my colleagues. I was told that I am insubordinate. I related the groping incident where I didn’t even receive an apology.
Now, what did these astute officials do? They visited my school and held a meeting about me with the senior staff to which I was not invited, then told them about my groping incident. No investigation was done to confirm my allegation.
I had indicated that I was uncomfortable with the staff knowing about this embarrassing incident and did not see the point of informing people who were not remotely involved. Now I am being bullied by ‘teachers’ and made the butt of jokes. Groping comments and sexual harassment jokes are made within my hearing.
How can people tasked with educating the nation, especially the enforcers, behave in such an atrocious manner? Professionalism and sensitivity training is needed for administrators and the officials at the Department of Education Region 4.
Upset Teacher
Name and School provided

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