The Prevalence of Violence Against Teachers

An Example of Research in the Republic of Croatia

Abstract

The aim of the research was to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference in perceived violence between primary school teachers and secondary school teachers, but also to examine teachers’ attitudes on whether (and which) media influence the spreading of false rumours about them. There participated in the research 197 primary and secondary schools teachers in the Republic of Croatia. Of the total number of respondents (N = 197), 127 teachers work in primary schools, and 70 teachers in secondary schools. The research showed that 71, 6% of the respondents experienced violence at school, and that teachers were exposed mostly to verbal violence, followed by emotional and electronic violence. The largest number of teachers met with various forms of violent behaviour several times a year (73.1%). The results of the variance analysis established that there is no statistically significant difference in the ordeal experienced by primary as opposed to secondary school teachers. Given the influence of the media, 88.8% of teachers believe that the media influence the spreading of false rumours about them, and 92.5% state that social networks are responsible. Four per cent experienced this from parents / guardians and then from students (42.4%).