Punches, WhatsApps and legal threats: Teachers under fire Teachers say parental aggression is making schools unsafe workplaces

Andre Oosthuysen, Executive Head of St Benedict’s, has raised serious concerns about the growing trend of hostile and litigious parenting that is driving teachers out of the profession and worsening an already critical teacher shortage. He warns that while most parents are supportive, a small but vocal group of “keyboard warriors” resort to threats of legal action and intimidation rather than constructive dialogue, damaging the essential partnership between parents and educators.

This issue, echoed by other school leaders such as Gill Jeffrey of St Andrew’s and Dr Deon Oerson of Holy Rosary, extends across both private and public schools, undermining trust and shifting focus away from students’ wellbeing. Oosthuysen urges parents to view schools as partners rather than adversaries, stressing the need for respectful communication to preserve long-term educational relationships and prevent further erosion of the teaching profession’s standing.

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