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

ILikeBeans do you have a link to the statement, please? Maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places but I can't seem to find it

To me she's not far off showing her knickers, it's not a good example when trying to educate teens not to share intimate photos. Ok it's just a photo of her showing quite a bit of leg, with her legs open, not really demure by any standards.

If everyone can see the picture, then her first lesson learnt is to restrict her FB settings.

It is not known if that is the reason for suspension, she's possibly been warned previously, but this has happened, so further action has been taken.

If she was in a position where she came into contact with young people she certainly should have kept delightful images like this private. Contrary to what some people appear to think, older kids would find this sort of thing on her fb pages a bit creepy.

Clearly she is not astute enough to appreciate that in such a work environment boundaries have got to be very clear.

No spider, it was brought to everyone's attention by children covertly filming the incident and a parent telling the papers.

Puzzled I don't no ; it was read out on the telly. I have also seen it but am not going to copy and paste that if that's OK.

Teachers really aren't entitled to a private life : at least lots of parents seem to think so when it suits them!

I couldn't just go off and join EDL or go on a a march or what about if I posted a load of racist stuff on my FB page? I would fully expect to be disciplined. It brings the school into disrepute.

Schools also need to be protected form their own students and staff posting negative stuff about them. And this woman crossed that line on her Facebook page by commenting on her pic. She shot herself in the foot.

Of course it's okay, ILikeBeaans - I wasn't trying to "out" you in any way, just to find out where the statement actually came from

Just to be clear, I am not a colleague!

Agree with others. Nothing so bad about the photo. The schools statement sounds like there's more to it though. I don't think it's a particularly sultry pose. Reminds me of one of those St Patricks Day costumes with the fake jockey legs

I happen to know someone at the school and she is actually a teacher responsible for pastoral care. So if your child is being bullied, has issues with drugs, is struggling with their mental health or sexuality then this is who your child would be sent to see. Don't know if that changes how anyone sees it.

Don't know if that changes how anyone sees it.

It doesn't change how I see the photo of the woman, no.

Considering loads of kids and parents have supported her and said what a fab pastoral care teacher she is then nope it doesn't change a thing. It's a photo she isn't drowning kittens ffs.

Wouldn't bother me if she had tattoos either as long as she was a good teacher.

It doesn't change how I see her either. All I see is a harmless selfie taken in her own time. Maybe if she was sat on a desk in a classroom or something then there would be cause for investigation but that's clearly not the case here. My mind is boggled at the fact that on 2017 there are still people out there who judge and look down their noses at someone solely because they have tattoos. Talk about archaic.

Maybe there is more to the story but we can only go on what we know so far.

Willow, let's be accurate, though. SOME kids and SOME parents have supported her. It was also some kids who reported her.

I would say that there must be more to it. Someone said about the comments that male students might be thinking about it make it in appropriate. Well tough shit. We can't start to police students thoughts. That is not her fault.
It would be better if her account was private (mine is because parents an be inappropriate in their interactions) but unless it's a specific condition of employment then that's up to her.

Teachers cannot stop living their lives because of their job. Personally I would not work for a school that expected it. We give enough of ourselves to the profession as it is.

Someone said about the comments that male students might be thinking about it make it in appropriate. Well tough shit. We can't start to police students thoughts. That is not her fault.

It's not a teacher's fault if some male students derive an undue amount of pleasure from the topless holiday snaps she posts online. You can argue the point as to whether that should be a barrier to someone having the freedom to post such pictures of themselves, but some people do have ideas of there being restrictions to preserve "modesty".

This thread makes me depressed.
If, as a teacher, I need to be constantly on alert to being a good role model, regardless of if I'm in school or not... what about the parents of the kids I teach? Shouldn't they be even more concerned about being a good role model for their children? I only see them a maximum of 4 hours a week, they see them up to 17 hours a day! Surely we should be policing parents behaviour a little more closely, if we are so worried about influences on kids?

How much of a life outside school am I allowed then, as a teacher? No drinking outside my own home I assume in case anyone takes a picture of me with a drink in my hand and students see; no short skirts ever, in fact a neck to ankle coverage at all times; no dancing in case it's provocative? All adults working with children need to stop having bare skin in public! Quick!

Quite clearly says in the article that se was suspended for other reasons, not the photo.

But Moo we do police parents' behaviour...not a photo like this,obviously (but we are deluding ourselves if we think this is all about this picture!!)

Huge numbers of concerns raised with social care come from schools!

Social care issues of serious neglect, yes. Taking a selfie in a short skirt? Nah.

I did say that.

The woman really has not been suspended because of that one selfie.

And it doesn't have to be serious neglect. we refer for a very wide range of reasons.

Tbh, I would talk to a girl in my care (or a boy) if I thought their social media presence was unwise in some way.