Bullying at tertiary education institutions? Power moves

Australia is a civilised society. Bullying in whatever forms cannot be tolerated. Bullying at university comes as a surprise not because we didn't know it has always existed but the degree of distress caused. 

We have heard of cyber bullying and school ground bullying. But senior academics, not just students, suffering mental distress from colleagues and seniors is difficult to grasp and comprehend. Has there been a real increase at the aggressors' initiative or victims are more open to air their grievances nowadays? 

If the university's best response is that it happens in all large organisations, this is not good enough. No attempt is made to investigate or improve work conditions. No wonder the reputation of UNSW and other organisations with similar culture of sweeping the dust under the carpet will be tarnished in the long run. Why do some top management look at worse examples to cite in order to make themselves look better. 

When the bullies take out on their victims for self gratification, they don't realise the distress and potential mental harm it may cause. Not every individual has the strength and opportunities to seek recourse and overcome the bad patch. It is not an exaggeration to extrapolate that bullying can drive the victims to illness or even deaths. This will no longer be a joke and it will be too late to 

On the other hand, there may be a small number of fragile students and academics who are more susceptible to melting and depression. What they need is counselling. In such cases, escalation and penalty imposed on those those who want to get their work done may not achieve the desired goals.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/university-of-hard-knocks/story-e6freuzi-1226429497231

A submission to the inquiry prepared by the National Tertiary Education Union said a confidential survey of more than 550 UNSW staff uncovered complaints about "unfair treatment, public humiliation, arbitrary misuse of power and repeated shouting, swearing and threatening behaviour in their work units".

Almost 40 respondents said they received or witnessed "unwanted sexual attention" while others reported "illegal discriminatory activity, pressure to retire and demeaning and discriminatory jokes".

One senior staff member was heard to comment on a colleague, saying she looked like "Princess Diana after the accident with the steering wheel through her face".

The submission said: "This was reported to senior management in the workplace but the respondent was unaware of any action taken.

NTEU branch president at UNSW Dr Sarah Gregson said in the submission she feared bullying was becoming an unacknowledged but deeply corrosive aspect of campus life: "The evidence we gathered suggested that, although UNSW has a bullying policy and other guidelines that outline acceptable workplace conduct, these policies are routinely ignored and harmful behaviour is often excused."

Academic Results not good enough. The dearth of reasonableness expected of Bright Kid UAI / ATAR 99.95 --Discontent knows no limits for Sarah Wong

Nothing but the best and perfection, wanted!  Half a mark from full marks is not enough, unacceptable, unfair!  There must be absolute happiness, nothing short of the maximum limit. 


Seriously, and honestly, did smart kid like Wong really expects to win? It surely succeeds in getting media attention, the unwanted and undesirable sort of responses. 


It is the norm than the exception. Many of us did not experience hand cramping half way through the paper, except those whose minds are blank, could not care less and have nothing more to write to impress the examiner?


To think that Ms Wong will be a medical doctor who has to diagnose illnesses and show care and concern for patients, is a frightening thought. 


It takes more than a spoilt brat. Aggressive parents stoking fire and egging her on to fight for her God given "rights" and extract what is believed to be her legal entitlement. Excuse me, what values are we imparting to the younger generation. It is useless to have perfect academic score when one lacks the ability to reason and be contented. 


Wong is not alone in this sort of manipulation for special provisions. Many private school kids have asked for some form of special consideration such as more time, teacher's assistance and conducive environment. Somehow, those who are born of more humble backgrounds are less demanding. Public school students are more likely to their naturally endowed abilities or disabilities, try to do their best and fend for themselves. That is not to say that some genuine cases merit help and flexibility. However, Wong has insulted our intelligence by pushing the limits beyond reason. 

DESPITE educating just one in four students with disabilities, private schools accounted for more than half the applications for HSC exam disability provisions this year.

Eleven per cent of HSC students at independent schools sought special consideration, compared with 6 per cent of students at government schools, NSW Board of Studies figures show. Disability provisions were sought by 8.1 per cent of HSC candidates in the Catholic system.

Private school students at a number of Christian schools, Anglican colleges and other high-fee schools successfully applied for special provisions at more than three times the rate of their public school counterparts.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/tertiary-education/private-students-most-likely-to-apply-for-hsc-special-consideration-20111207-1ojbs.html

The story : Quote : 

AFTER achieving a university entry rank of 99.95, winning fifth place in the state for chemistry and a place at the University of Sydney studying medicine, the former Abbotsleigh student Sarah Hui Xin Wong believed she could have done better in the HSC.

Sarah's mother, Eileen, lodged complaint after complaint to the school and to the Board of Studies since Sarah completed the HSC in 2008, arguing her daughter was discriminated against.

Yesterday, Ms Wong lost her appeal against a decision by the NSW Board of Studies not to grant her special examination provisions in the form of a computer and extra exam time for the 2008 Higher School Certificate.

She took the Board of Studies to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, claiming she was unlawfully discriminated against on the ground of disability.

Ms Wong, now 21, said the board failed to adequately accommodate her joint hyper mobility of the wrist and hand during her English advanced and modern history exams.

She was granted rest breaks during the exams. She was also offered the use of a writer, who would take down her dictation. However, she chose not to use this option.

Ms Wong scored a university entry rank of 99.95 and is studying a combined degree in science and medicine at the University of Sydney. She came fifth in the HSC chemistry exam when she was in year 11 in 2007.

However, she told the tribunal she believed if she had been granted a computer or extra time, she would have achieved much higher marks.

The tribunal found Ms Wong failed to establish her claims of discrimination and dismissed her complaint.

The tribunal said it was not satisfied that without a computer, Ms Wong was unable to perform to her ability in the same way that persons without her disability could have done.

Ms Wong has been ordered to pay some of the Board of Studies' costs, including a proportion of the fees of the leading Sydney barrister Chris Ronalds, SC.

Earlier this year she told the Herald the board's failure to grant her additional ''special provisions'' meant that she was not fairly tested.

''The point isn't that I was doing badly. I did do well, what a normal person would consider well,'' she said. ''But you want your disability to be sufficiently addressed with special examination provisions so that everyone has a capability to communicate what they know in the HSC examinations, otherwise it is not a fair test of your knowledge.

''Marks were lost often towards the end of the paper where my hand fatigued and I wasn't able to complete the paper. My writing became illegible and my hand was cramping.''

http://m.smh.com.au/national/education/student-loses-appeal-over-9995-hsc-mark-20120703-21flw.html