Full Story Slut-shamed and bullied by students: why teachers are quitting
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Jun 3, 2025 Caitlin Cassidy, an education reporter for Guardian Australia, delves into the troubling rise of bullying and misogyny in Australian classrooms. She highlights the alarming statistics revealing how these behaviors are driving teachers, particularly women, out of the profession. The conversation spans the role of social media and toxic masculinity in shaping student behavior, the shifting dynamics between teachers and parents, and the need for new teaching methods to combat declining attention spans. Cassidy emphasizes the urgent need for community support to enhance teacher retention.
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Harsh Realities Teachers Face
- Teachers report facing intimidation, threats, and actual physical violence including punching and kicking.
- One teacher in a wheelchair was surrounded and intimidated by a group of boys during yard duty.
Rising Violence and Poor Behaviour
- Instances of physical violence against teachers increased by 82% since 2011 according to a Catholic University survey.
- Australian students' behaviour ranks among the worst in global studies like PISA.
Misogyny and Toxic Role Models
- Female teachers reported being slut-shamed with explicit sexual insults from students.
- Some male teachers fear the influence of toxic masculinity figures like Andrew Tate on boys' behaviour.