Website ‘grading’ teachers is used to bully students, says ASTI

A WEBSITE causing uproar because pupils are “grading” teachers on it, is also being used to bully students, according to a teachers’ union.

In a letter sent to hundreds of second-level schools, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has told members it is pursuing the operator of the ratemyteachers.ie site.

The website contains comments from students on teachers’ performances, which has infuriated school staff countrywide.

The union has been advised that a teacher who is defamed on the site can take legal action against the operator, the host company, the internet service provider and the person who posted the material.

The 16,500-member union has not made any public comment on the site since it was first highlighted last month. But the letter to ASTI school stewards says the website is inappropriate and unacceptable.

“In addition to the fact that members are being targeted and abused, we are aware that non-teachers - including children - are being named as teachers on the website and then being targeted by website users,” wrote ASTI general secretary John White and president Susie Hall.

A teacher whose personal appearance was referred to on the site told 2FM’s Gerry Ryan Show that students’ names were being added to teacher lists by classmates.

“They can actually put a student’s name up there and make him or her a victim of abuse, which is very sinister,” said the caller, Annie.

She said she had to take the day off school because she was so hurt by comments about her clothes and appearance and has said she will no longer take part in extracurricular activities.

“We are just punching bags for students, I’m just sick and tired of being a punching bag. It’s open season on teachers and I’m not going to stand for it,” she said.

The site allows students to grade their teachers based on easiness, helpfulness and clarity, providing an overall quality rating out of five. But some comments caused huge concern, particularly in relation to teachers’ looks or personal lives.

The website claims it has received more than 264,000 ratings of almost 30,000 teachers in 1,262 schools. But its rules say any comments which are sexual in nature, or refer to a teacher’s physical appearance or personal life will be deleted.

ASTI has told members it is pursuing the US-based operator on the basis that content is in breach of this usage policy. The union has told the company there is defamatory material on the site and that legal action can be taken against them under Irish law.

However, legal experts say it would be extremely difficult to claim damages from a company which has no assets here. While an Irish court could make an order for damages arising from defamation, any such order would be almost impossible to execute.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin criticised the site last month, and said every student would complain if their teacher put their reports on the internet.