Principal and Teacher Assaults
- Published: 09 October 2017
Contending with verbal or even physical assault has become a feature of the work of principals and teachers. Such behaviour must be named, recorded, resisted and subjected to all available sanctions.
“Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scolb”. Preparation for a possible assault incident is essential. To begin, familiarise yourself with the following and have them available, if required:
- DES Circular 40/1997 - clearly sets out the responsibility of the Board of Management to provide a safe place of work
- Parental Complaints Procedure
- Grievance Procedure – Procedure for complaints by teachers against a principal
- Bullying/Harassment Procedure
- IPPN Communication Resource Bundle – Best practice guidelines for avoiding conflict situations and for dealing with them if and when they arise
You should then devise a Dignity at Work Policy. It is important that this policy be agreed and owned by all stakeholders - thereby committing them to its implementation. Poor communication, or a breakdown in communication, plays a central role in conflict. The stress principals’ experience in dealing with conflicts that arise within their school communities takes its toll personally and professionally. If you are experiencing some interpersonal or communication difficulty, IPPN’s Leadership Support Team is available to offer personal and professional support.
