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Art teacher in hot water over topless photos

Arnaud said:
When it comes to the relationship between teacher and student, it is clear that the teachers have to show an example in the school
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Unfortunately for all of us, the separation of job life and personal life isn't as simple as the ringing of the bell or the punching of the time clock. You are always representing yourself when you do things, and when your effectiveness depends on how others perceive you, then what you do outside of "company time" can indeed have an impact on job performance.

Arnaud said:
and have to restrain themselves from inciting the students to immoral behaviour. Now, she hasn't done any of that.
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Depends on whose definition of "immoral" you use, which is the problem here.
 
emw said:
Depends on whose definition of "immoral" you use, which is the problem here.
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I meant, she didn't invite students to check her website or pose for photos like hers (from what I read). I understand that she did her own things on her side, and that it came back to her unexpectedly.
 
aquajet said:
An open question:

Would you be okay with your teenage child looking at nude photographs of his/her high school teacher?
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I'm only 18, so as of yet...no kids. But, if I did have kids (and someday will), they would not be raised in a house where nudity is some taboo subject. Chances are, most teenagers and even some pre-teenagers have already seen nudity in much more graphic and "obscene" sense than this, and probably see it on a regular basis.

But then again, my kids most likely won't be attending traditional public school education, soo.
 
I'm one for thinking that you are representing not the school, but yourself when you teach.

I am a private music tutor, and am always very concious that when I step outside I could (and have many, many times) bump into one of my students and their parents.

It would not be desirable therefore if I was, perchance nude, smoking pot etc etc.

I stand up every day in a position of respect (that is, I expect it) and you can't possibly throw away every veil of decency and personal space if you're hoping to make a sucessful career as an educator.

I do believe that everybody is entitled to doing what they want in their personal time - but this "public" image comes with the job if you're dedicated. I guess I am!
 
Arnaud said:
I meant, she didn't invite students to check her website or pose for photos like hers (from what I read). I understand that she did her own things on her side, and that it came back to her unexpectedly.
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Was it not another teacher who actually directed the students to the website in question in the process of badmouthing her to students of his own? Should not be be disciplined for being the orignal exposer as it were?

I looked at the photos and I didn't see anything wrong with them, but that's just me. I don't know that I'd classify them as "art" per se, but I'm not an artist so don't listen to me on that.

That being said, I find it absurd that she could/would be dismissed for practicing her profession. Where would it end? Could a writing teacher be dismissed for having a "morally questionable" story published? Caution: slippery slope ahead.
 
The question I'd like to know the answer to is:

Was she given the chance to continue teaching? If so, how did she handle any student awareness of the pictures?

There's plenty of teachers who could handle this. If she has the respect of the students because of how she teaches, that's unlikely to change due to the pictures.

If this adversely (and importantly, materially) affected her ability to teach, then perhaps the school authorities have a right to ask her to leave. Otherwise, they should leave her the hell alone.

Basically, if she was no longer able to fulfil her role at the school -- that's a problem. The fact that these photos exist is not.

(and for the poster who said most UK teachers had hit every branch of the ugly tree... well, you should've been at my school. I had an English teacher for my A-Levels (17-18yrs old, pre-uni qualifications, for non UK'ers) who was a) stunning, b) incredibly sexy (you know what I mean... the kind of person who just *is* sexy, irrespective of appearance) and c) the best damn teacher I ever had. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, understanding and teaching ability are nothing short of phenomenal. Now I'm a decade or so older, we're actually still friends. I've sometimes reminded her of points a, b and c above. She usually just smiles and says "It was all part of the plan." :D)
 
displaced said:
The question I'd like to know the answer to is:

Was she given the chance to continue teaching? If so, how did she handle any student awareness of the pictures?

There's plenty of teachers who could handle this. If she has the respect of the students because of how she teaches, that's unlikely to change due to the pictures.

If this adversely (and importantly, materially) affected her ability to teach, then perhaps the school authorities have a right to ask her to leave. Otherwise, they should leave her the hell alone.

Basically, if she was no longer able to fulfil her role at the school -- that's a problem. The fact that these photos exist is not.
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Precisely the point -- this argument should be about how the consequences of her decision impact her instruction. Everything else is secondary.

Arnaud said:
I see your point of view as a scary one. You tend to say that a teacher's private life goes after a pupil's life, because of all the possible consequences, and that all the actions of the teacher should be controlled in that view. On the other hand, the pupil does not have any of these obligations in his own life. I.e., the teacher becomes a slave of the pupil. Poor gratification for such a comitment.
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Welcome to an ethical relationship.

"Everyone is respnosible for the criminal's actions, and no one more so than myself."
 
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