To think it’s fair to judge people on their appearance in certain situations?

There is a huge teacher recruitment and retention crisis. Wanting good teachers to leave because they're scruffy would be insane, frankly. As would believing smartly dressed and professional-looking equals good teacher.

I’m overweight and look like a right mess most days not a teacher tho definitely more than frazzled in fact I’ve been sat in a jumper with a coffee stain on it and smells like dog, does it stop me doing my job…no, does being fat stop me from doing my job…no

Do I give a shiny shit if you judge me…nope 🤷‍♀️

Do I give a shit if you turn up for a job interview in a stained hoody…nope i judge on the answers to the questions…

do i judge my children’s overweight teachers…nope I judge them on their ability to teach my children

As I’ve gotten older I have noticed I don’t have time for all of this now

The dead are dead and dont care what you wearing.
That comment from a supposed employee at a funeral directors really fucked me off.

And also sort yourself out with the fat shaming. It shows you in a far poorer light.

Agree. There's a difference between dirty and scruffy vs a few extra lbs. Ffs.

My cousin rocked up to my mums funeral in ripped jeans. We hadn't seen him in years and it meant so much that he was just himself and so comfortable around her that he didn't feel the need to dress up. I'll never forget that. He travelled 2 and a half hours to be there and I could not give one shiny shite about his clothing. He's a good man and his character shines out far more than his clothing.

You may have backed down over the 'overweight teacher' example, but you still chose it as an example. And, frankly, it casts a poor light on your judgement generally. I don't think people should turn up to work dirty or unkempt, but an interesting question would be : Would you rather your child were taught by a fantastic, inspiring, talented but unkempt teacher, or a slim, smart, mediocre or incompetent one? I know which I would choose...

This right here. Anymore than anorexia is a character flaw.

but whats the point in looking the part if they got no skills or suitable experience for the role ? all fluff and no cake

that said i do agree it does help to look the part

This thread reminds me of that film Happiness, and how hard that guy worked to gain employment whilst being homeless as a single parent. We judge a person on their character and abilities for the role, when we're at our best and most humane.

Why on earth did you go for overweight?? You had a point but then you blew it.

Try putting up with 30+ children and looking calm, clean and collected by 3.30pm every day... and then working through the evening to get things done... and then you'll see why there are unkempt teachers!

It's very unpleasant to judge people on their appearances. As someone who got bullied a lot at school for my appearance (i.e. something that couldn't be helped at the time), and had to put up with several judgemental relatives, I learnt to hate myself. Interestingly, people treated me much more nicely when the main problem with my appearance was fixed. However, that didn't stop their comments on other areas of my appearance. I'm not the kind of person who has sleek, shiny hair, or perfect skin, but I'm still a human being with feelings that are just as valid as anyone else's.

Even now, I get treated very differently based on what I'm wearing (i.e. looked down on for my work clothes, but treated with deference and respect if I dare to step out in a skirt or a smart coat). Throw in my accent or my name, and that throws other curveballs.

Some of the kindest people in this world dress down, or have unusual accents, names or mannerisms. Some of the nastier people might look nice, but it doesn't make them a better person.

As a result, I try to look past what's on the outside. It's what's on the inside that matters most. Perhaps, if everyone tried to do that, the world would be a much nicer and kinder place to live in.

Teacher-bashing is a favourite pastime for some people. It’s one of the main reasons I left the profession.

I wouldn’t mind if an overweight nurse told me to lose weight unless they were rude about it but that applies to a slim nurse too.

I may not go to them for weight loss advice, but if they’re just being factual about letting me know I’m overweight and advising on what’s best for my health then it is what it is.

If my BMI is say 30 that doesn’t change whether it’s a fat or slimmer nurse telling me that.

And unlike a nurse I don’t do shift work and probably have a lot more energy and time to cook healthy meals and get my steps in. Everyone’s situations different.

My normally very slim aunt who is a nurse went through a very overweight period in her 50s - she was also promoted right to a very senior position about then. I feel it was linked to that and the loss of her husband.

She lost the weight again but I’m sure the health advice she gave during her overweight phase was just as valuable.

You would be very unfair to judge anyone on their weight. Why would you judge a teacher for being overweight? You're mad.

From your thread title, I opened the thread to agree with you.
There are absolutely situations where people should think more carefully about what they wear, and yes, I would judge someone turning up to a wedding or an interview in their joggers.

But then I read your opening post, and you've completely lost me.

I would raise an eyebrow at an overweight healthcare worker telling me I needed to lose weight or a dentist with tartar lecturing me about flossing, maybe!

Why on earth did you single out having a problem with overweight teachers specifically?!

Yonks ago I worked in recruitment. It was such an eye opener. In the begining I didnt get why my exceptional candidates would get rejected for ridiculous reasons by clients. It was only when my best candidate, an Indian IT guy was rejected working for the corporate office of a famous luxuary brand for such a weak reason did my boss (also Indian) pulled me to one side and explained the harsh reality. Put my third best white candidate forwards and got the job instantly. Weight, gender, race, religion - even a northern/cockney accents would scupper the chances of an exceptional candidate even being put forwards. They knew it was a waste of time. Gradually I found myself doing it until I become the top biller in the entire company every quarter. Thay and due to the fact I am white on the phone and black in person so EVERY new client meeting started off with an awkward exchange like shaking hands with my subordinate assuming it was me or being told off for using the main entrance as deliveries go around the back. Once was scolded at for 'being late' as reception thought I was the new security guard! Worked in my favor as I would get their business out of sheer embarrassment to not seem racist. 🤣 After 2 years of that I felt so disgusted with myself and quit.

I often meet overweight nurses and I understand that they work 13-hour shifts with a 20-minute break if they’re lucky. Then they get home and have to wash their uniforms that are usually stained with other people’s bodily fluids. I don’t judge them at all and I’m grateful they turn up for work.

nurse checking slender patient’s height to weignt ratio (this one’s personal)

front line police officer
fireman/woman/person
athlete
gymnast
professional dancer (although, has anyone ever noticed, well built men with
small feet are often light footed and excellent movers)
trapeze artists
roofers
jockeys
tree surgeon
telephone linesman
model
lifeguard
there must be many more

There is a shortage of Maths teachers, so please feel free to offer up your mathematical skills to the profession.

I would probably wonder how effective a PE teacher who was very overweight was.

And an Art Teacher who was very smart and immaculately dressed. (Surely they should have a smudge of paint in their hair!)

Maths teachers are interesting. Dd had a maths teacher who before the parents evening I already felt was very poor. (I’m a mathematician - I can back this up!) He was very unkempt at the parents evening which I felt backed up my opinion of his poorness,

However, if I had felt he was a brilliant maths teacher then I would have been quite happy with his appearance and felt it was quite appropriate for a brilliant mathematician. (I work with a lot of mathematicians. The “mad genius” stereotype comes from truth.)

So short answer - I care most how good people are at maths not what they look like. 😂

This thread is going to do wonders for teacher recruitment - not. Why not choose nurses, doctors or estate agents as examples? I was a teacher for over 25 years and keeping on top of exercise, laundry, and ironing was impossible when working 60-70 hour weeks.

How about we cut down the number of tasks teachers are expected to do so they have time to cook healthy meals, get some exercise and strive for sartorial elegance? Grades will drop and there won’t be as many children with EHCPs, but at least the horrendous spectacle of teachers who are overweight with stained clothes won’t be a problem 🙄

I’m a teacher and the more experience, expertise and, as a result, seniority and responsibility I gained, the more weight I gained as the job is bloody hard. But I was a far better teacher than when I started and when I was extremely fit and slim - and my results were evidence of that. So YABVU.

Very shallow