Parent abuse of school principals at highest reported level ever in occupational survey’s history

More than a third of Tasmanian school principals were physically attacked last year, while three in 10 said they had been bullied. A new survey has revealed the demographic behind most of the abuse. DETAILS >

Malcolm Elliott, a former principal and president of the Australian Primary Principals Association.

More than a third of Tasmanian school principals were physically attacked last year, while three in 10 said they had been bullied.

And, shockingly, it was the parents who were often the perpetrators.

A survey of principals found that in 2022, 38 per cent had suffered physical violence and 55 per cent had suffered threats of violence.

Around 2500 principals across the country took part in the Australian Catholic University’s annual Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey.

It found physical violence, unpleasant teasing, and cyber-bullying were at their highest levels ever since the survey began 12 years ago.

While there had been a drop in offensive behaviour against principals during the first year of Covid, it soared in 2022, with more being subjected than ever before.

Almost four in 10 reported they were the subject of gossip and slander and a quarter had been bullied online.

Across Tasmania, more than a third of principals said they had been attacked or threatened by parents, while more than half had been subjected to abuse from students.

Almost four in 10 reported they were the subject of gossip and slander and a quarter had been bullied online.

Australian Primary Principals Association president Malcolm Elliott said the results of the survey were both “disappointing” and “astounding”.

“Principals are having to take action to protect themselves and their families,” Mr Elliott said.

“There are certain legal processes school principals can enact.

“Some are issuing trespass orders.”

He said anonymous trolls were causing reputational damage online, as well as issuing threats.

“I have had reports where principals have been threatened with, ‘I know where your children go to school’. It’s horrifying.”

Australian Catholic University (ACU) lecturer Paul Kidson, who was also an investigator behind the survey, said parents had to stop this madness.

“Parents need to lift their game,” Mr Kidson said.

“No-one should be subjected to that kind of behaviour.

“There needs to be a societal change.

“In any other workplace these parents would find this kind of behaviour objectionable.”

He said the rise of gossip and slander and cyberbullying was also coming under attack online, across all types of social media platforms.

Malcolm Elliott, a former principal and president of the Australian Primary Principals Association.

“The largest proportion of that is coming from parents,” Mr Kidson, a former principal, said.

“People feel they are immune to being held accountable.”

The survey found one in 10 independent principals nationally were subjected to offensive behaviour, compared to one in five Catholic school leaders and half of government principals.

Four in 10 primary school leaders said they had been victims of abuse last year, while half of secondary school leaders said they had. The number rose dramatically in special schools where nearly three quarters of principals said they had been subject to offensive behaviour.

Mr Kidson said the abuse by parents and kids was contributing to the stress principals were under and along with a number of other factors including teacher shortages, the cumulative impact may see a growing exodus from the profession.

Last month News Corp exclusively revealed that the number of principals wanting to quit or retire early had tripled, with stress over the teacher workforce crisis adding additional pressure to the job.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the findings were “alarming”.

“You can see the impact of this in teachers and principals leaving the profession early, burnt out and worn out,” Mr Clare told News Corp.

He said he was trying to solve the teacher workforce crisis with the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan.

“It’s not a panacea. It’s not perfect. But it’s a start.”