Teacher suspended - who IBU?

[Wondermoomin]

Female teacher is suspended for an "inappropriate" selfie. I'm of the opinion that whilst it might be unprofessional, it's not a disciplinary offence. I can't help but think she's facing such harsh treatment because she's a woman. Would a male teacher bearing the same amount of skin (essentially just arms and legs) have been told they looked "sultry" and "provocative" and suspended? I don't think so

What do you think? Is the school being unreasonable?

http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/pupils-defend-milton-keynes-teacher-suspended-over-inappropriate-selfie-shot-1-7890876

I would want the one who was better at their job

But that isnt what happens. People are judged on their looks first. Then you get to know them personally or professionally. As an employer, I would not entertain giving someone a job with a neck tattoo. I would go through the motions of looking at qualifications, but I would not give them a job.

How many posters just returned to the pic to inspect her 'massive nose'?

Her pose did the job, didn't it!

I can't help but think she's facing such harsh treatment because she's a woman.

Isn't part of the frowning upon this sort of thing about making sure the teacher doesn't inflame the lusts of their pupils (not the exact wording anyone would actually use, I know).

And the stereotypes of males and females and the way they respond to such things, would say that an attractive teacher showing some leg in a short dress and in heels is pushing things in that regard. More so than a man might perhaps.

Actually I don't know - it is hard to compare how they would treat male and female teachers over "inappropriate" pictures without seeing actual photos that people may have gotten into trouble for.

But perhaps a warning and asking her to take it down should have been the worst that happened.

People are splitting hairs over how the photo was 'seen'. I don't think pupils necessarily saw it : they overheard the row, made assumptions, the press got wind of it and they found the photos...

The Sun in particular loves the photos. Speaks volumes?

I am sure, if she wants to (and she may not!), Ms F can make an alternative revenue stream out of her appealing looks by talking to the tabloid press.

On the subject of gender, there would be alarm if a male teacher were fund to be looking at images like this, or if he had 'sexy ' pics on display!

I have heard tell of young males being reprimanded for pics featuring laddish pranks, for vulgar or crass language and for pics of them falling down drunk. So they are under scrutiny actually.

It's an extremely sexual photograph

Are you Victorian?

I do understand why PPs want to defend her on feminist grounds of grounds of freedom of expression but there are rules governing safeguarding and responsibilities for those in charge of young people . I wouldn't be overly happy if my DC's teachers posted photos like this... partly actually because I think it promotes a vain, vacuous and image obsessed identity.

But I do think the suspension is more to do perhaps with said woman's reaction perhaps to a bit of a scolding or other concerns over her professionalism which this photo is only symptomatic of, rather than the sole issue.

SoupDragon

Do yo u not think she looks sexy or this is a sexual photograph?

I stick by my first comment that anyone who says this is 'just a photograph' is being disingenuous.

To me, sexy photos of women don't mean ankles around your ears and fanny on display. The same for men. I don't want to see a close up of balls and a 6-pack. Alluring and sultry is more my definition and that's what I think is shown here.

I don't think it's 'sexual' - she looks like she's wearing shorts.

Absolutely ridiculous if that's the reason

'Slut shaming' at its worst.

But Ilikebeans (good OM&M name there - I hope you're Team Curley's Wife...) - you don't HAVE to like what your dc's teachers post on social media.

If they are friending your dc, that's inappropriate.

Otherwise, they're doing something you perhaps don't like, in their free time.

I don't much like the picture either, but if I came across it as a photo of one of my dcs ' teachers - not my problem.

In the same way as not liking their choice of football team or home decor would be - not my problem.

How they conduct themselves between 8-3 is as far as my legitimate interest goes.

What they do in their own time would need to demonstrably impact on their teaching before it became ANY of my business.

I can't see any inappropriatness in that picture.
FFS. How dare teachers be human and have a life outside of children

A man sitting on a bed wearing shorts would not elicit any disapproval.

So I'm calling it sexism.

"Alluring and sultry is more my definition and that's what I think is shown here."

A woman, dressed in ordinary going-out style clothes including handbag. Not smiling, a fairly neutral expression on her face. Taken in a bedroom because she might have just been getting ready to go out, she has picked up her handbag and has taken a quick selfie before she does go out.....................

What some people seem to see:

Whoar sexy, alluring it's an actual youngish woman, in a bedroom! Not covered from wrist to ankle, looking like she might be going out to have a good time...........................

Catalogue Pose .... nothing more x

ADyke

I'd guess she's in her 40s, not youngish.

Of course you can be hell-bent on a crusade trying to prove she isn't alluring or sexy but, as a dyke, I'm surprised. I'm very straight but think she's very sexy in this image.

ADyke

I'd guess she's in her 40s, not youngish.

Of course you can be hell-bent on a crusade trying to prove she isn't alluring or sexy but, as a dyke, I'm surprised. I'm very straight but think she's very sexy in this image.

If it was a strict religious school this wouldn't surprise me but as usual the media have probably got the wrong end of the stick. There will be more than this photo going on.

From the article - They [the students] whipped out their mobile phones and recorded the eight minute row, which took place in the school office.

I'd love to hear this!

Yes, I am team Curley's Wife Crowy

And I do agree with you in principle. I'm extrapolating because I know staff like this who post photos like this on FB. They are often rather over familiar, chatty, informal... not great role models of professionalism. Generally, not always. And a staff member who gets so much 'support ' from lairy 15 yos is often interesting!

The trouble with schools/ FB is it doesn't take much for students to easily gain access. We have lots of staff who are local, the are friends with mums of kids and it all blurs boundaries a bit. I must admit, at my place, we have a pastoral support person who is friends with parents of children and sometimes I have an intake of breath at some of her images and posts.

But I would never think to act upon it. But I do know she is professional in her role.

Che she's 39, if it matters!

If this gets as far as dismissal, and is referred to the NCTL, it will be laughed out of the place if this photo is the only reason for the referral. If she has accepted friend requests from pupils then that is a different matter and would be considered problematic, but she won't get banned from teaching for this photo alone.

To be fair we don't even know at all if it is about THIS photo, let alone a photo at all. This is just the main one the press got hold of and, for some reason, what the students at the school have assumed the brouhaha is about.

This is telling.

This suggests to me she was having a barbed go at someone and maybe had previous...

'underneath the offending picture, in response to a friend's compliment, she wrote: "Thank you! I wouldn't class this as inappropriate, would you?"'

If it's just based on this picture then it's bloody ridiculous! I imagine there might be more to it, possibly for her having students as friends on there which is obviously a huge no no.

As a complete aside, the current advice given to trainee teachers is to use their middle name or mothers maiden name on Facebook. It irritates me no end, as far as I'm concerned teachers are entitled to a personal life!

I would not entertain giving someone a job with a neck tattoo. I would go through the motions of looking at qualifications, but I would not give them a job.

Then that says more about you than the person applying for the job.

. I wouldn't be overly happy if my DC's teachers posted photos like this

But you wouldn't know unless you actively searched for them on social media. I don't tend to search for my dc teachers on Facebook, the thought never crossed my mind because their selfies are non of my business and I'm more interested in their skills as a teacher.