Teachers’ Perceptions of Students who Bully Teachers: A Pilot Study in Lebanon

Abstract

Teachers frequently face disruptive bullying behaviors from various stakeholders in schools, leading to significant loss of classroom instruction time. This study focuses on exploring teachers' perceptions of bullying by students, which is often overlooked in discussions about school bullying. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, utilizing focused-group interviews, individual interviews with bullied teachers, and questionnaires. 53 teachers participated in the questionnaires, with 10 agreeing to be interviewed. The findings emphasize the necessity of acknowledging different forms of bullying, appropriately addressing incidents, and implementing preventive measures to discourage such behavior and promote inclusivity. This study recommends further exploration in other Lebanese schools to comprehend this issue in diverse settings. Additionally, future research could involve collecting data from students' perspectives to better understand the dynamics of bullying teachers.