The Badass Teachers Association, in working with the American Federation of Teachers, developed a "Quality of Work life Survey", www.aft.org/sites/default/file...urveyresults2015.pdf which was taken by 90,000 educators/completed by 32,000 in order to find out how the adults are faring within education today, This was the first time teachers and other education professions were asked about everything from Common Core and high stakes testing, to school violence, the impact of poverty, poor facilities, bullying and so much more.
The results led to an amendment is ESSA which will allow school districts and stakeholders (parents, employees, students, community, etc.) to investigate the quality of their system's working/learning environment - and publicly report.
Our work started after we learned via social media that four teachers had completed suicide in just two weeks.
While numerous organizations currently focus on very real student-student bullying, no one yet notices the workplace bullying/ intimidation/ retaliation that many face (not just in education!). The USA is practically the only western country with no workplace bullying laws. While Europe seeks the presence of 'dignity' at work, the USA has yet to recognize the trauma (like domestic violence) produced by workplace bullying and harassment.
How owe can schools be safe places for our children when they are not safe places for the adults?
If you have any doubts about the trauma from bullying, please find the story of Ms Jennifer Lenihan, Bassett HS art teacher (La Puente, CA). The bullying impacted many teachers and students, resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit, and an investigation which led to firing/reassigning 13 administrators.
This mural is in her classroom. Her former student, who became an art teacher himself and looked forward to working with her in 2013, was tasked in replacing her instead.
