Does the size of a teacher make difference to their ability to teach?

[StrumpersPlunkett]

Would you be concerned if your child’s teacher was of significantly reduced mobility due to being overweight?
If you are a teacher in early years/ks1/ks2+
Would it limit your teaching?

Good idea to get into schools and volunteer and do whole days to get a better feel for the job.

Some classrooms are rather cramped and the limited space between desks would then be an issue. Maybe most schools are more spacious now though.

I'm quite surprised at the mention of TAs to do the more physical tasks. Do all teachers have a TA?

Absolutely not. What a vile post

I'm quite surprised at the mention of TAs to do the more physical tasks. Do all teachers have a TA?

No, they don’t any more. Blame budget cuts.

My mum was a teacher (40 years before she retired) and she is so petite. Despite this she is one of the best disciplinarians I have ever known. The kids LOVED her and she was so much fun but also very strict.....so no I don’t think it matters

If you're capable of doing the job, your weight shouldn't be a factor. Regarding the PE aspect, obviously you'd need to be able to show the children what you'd want them to do, but it would be more of a case of walking around, supervising them and giving advice.

There's a teacher at our local primary (I guess around Year 3 or 4), she seems lovely but must be morbidly obese, she's still got herself through teacher training, work experience and got the job over others that applied.

Oh ffs I didn't read what you said after! No I absolutely wouldn't be bothered. Go for it xx

An obese teacher doesn’t concern me. As for PE: at my kids’ school, there is an art teacher who is also very involved in sports. She is also quite obese. Never given it a second thought until now (how is it she’s obese if she’s so into sport? 🤔)

I think teachers do sit down more these days if they are using a computer/whiteboard. However I still prefer to stand as it affects my class management if I am sitting ie you can’t keep an eye on everything.

Hi OP, I'm a primary teacher and I'm overweight. Not massively but a bit a size 14-16. It doesn't affect my ability to move or join in. I'm in early years so movement is crucial, getting down on your knees, playing, shoelaces etc. However, we teach healthy eating and physical development etc. I always feel a complete hypocrite when I'm teaching about this and I wish I was thinner so I was a role model in this subject. E.g. I teach PE but I'm always completely out of breath (I'm not one for barking orders on the sidelines).

I'd be a happier teacher if I was thinner but not a better one.

Op id consider ks2 or secondary. I was taught by an excellent teacher in a wheelchair at secondary and have worked with teachers of all different sizes and ones with disabilities in my years as a secondary teacher. Ks1 is a lot more active.

I have no disability and am a size 10 but by god getting up off the floor now hurts my bloody knees.

god, so many misconception about weight and health and some very patronising comments on here! people know so very little about obesity but all feel they are experts just because they are not themselves overweight!

have a look at the statistics about metabolically healthy overweight people, and also about how many overweight people have terrible experiences with health professionals, to the point that they avoid check ups and visits for fear of being humiliated, this culture really has to change.

I have taught Reception, KS1 and KS2. I found R/KS1 physically much much harder. You do need to be able to move around a lot to keep up with the children. You can't really sit in one place and have them come to you. You need to be bending down to them at their desks or when they are doing various other activities in the classroom. You also need to be able to move quickly in the case of an accident.

From that point of view KS2 is easier (there are other aspects that even things out making both key stages equally hard work) but from a physical point of view, KS2 wasn't so demanding.

PE teaching - depends on the school. I had to teach it in all schools I taught at apart from the independent school where a specialist took it. It might be possible on an individual basis to swap lessons with another teacher in the school so that you took a subject for them and they did your PE.
I found that I needed to move around a lot for PE - it isn't just a case of standing supervising. You need to set out equipment and tidy it away (with help from the children where appropriate). Again, in the case of an accident, you need to be able to move quickly to help the child.

I also think you would be battling some prejudice when going to interviews. Sad but unfortunately true. Schools may be concerned about your mobility for some of the reasons above.

However, I don't think all this would mean you would not be a good teacher. You would have some difficulties to overcome. I would perhaps advising steering more towards the KS2 end (though in your training you are expected to do placements in both).
Are you doing voluntary work in a school? You'll need to do this to strengthen your application and it would give you a better idea as to whether your mobility will cause issues. You could also talk to the headteacher and other teachers about it.

As others have said, I think mobility is more significant than weight. In general, I think most schools would be able to accommodate mobility challenges. Does your weight actually affect your movement or are you simply afraid of being judged on aesthetics? If it’s the latter, kids are far more accepting of all shapes and sizes than adults. They will love a kind teacher regardless of size. x

missperegrinespeculiar the op is experiencing complications though. She’s got limited mobility now.

It’s not wrong to explain the physical aspects of teaching so the op can make an informed decision about going into the profession at the weight she is now.

Honestly it wouldn't even come on my radar, i'd be more concerned with how dedicated, kind and engaging you were. What else really matters? Children have plenty of other role models. I think people sometimes forget that children have parents too who should be teaching them about a healthy lifestyle, how to be kind etc etc. Some things are easier to teach in schools such as teamwork etc and teachers obviously know the best way to teach reading etc.

If you are considering teaching then I think you may find the process of training etc easier if you got a bit fitter. Not saying drastically diet but you can get through the day easier if you are a bit fitter and healthier so maybe look at a few simple changes. Upping water intake. PGCEs are very draining and stressful and you need to get prepped for it. Good luck I’m sure you will be fab.

One of my teachers had cerebral palsy and had significantly reduced mobility and she was fab! Go for it OP!

MissPeregrine,

I would not in any way consider myself an expert in obesity, but I DO have some knowledge of teaching.

A completely mobile, metabolically healthy overweight person would face no barrier to primary teaching.

A teacher who lacks basic mobility through their obesity would face some barriers, and would have to think about how those could be overcome in their school / classroom (in the same way as a teacher with a physical disability and the school which employs them has to think about those barriers and the adaptations needed)

Those saying that a "passion for teaching" isn't enough... I'd say that there are quite a few jaded teachers out there, or those who don't have passion for the job - and I'd say they need to look elsewhere for employment.

Passion really is the building block and if you don't have it, don't teach.

I personally don't consider my opinion, as a parent, important when it comes to a teacher's physique. We don't pillory disabled people and tell them they're 'not up to it', why should somebody overweight be any different? I'd expect the school to make things possible and easier for a teacher they want to employ and keep.

Why are people so very judgemental about things that really are none of their business?

OP - do it. If teaching would be your passion then do it.

Passion really is the building block and if you don't have it, don't teach.

No one said you don’t need passion. Plenty of passionate trainers are shit in the classroom. I am passionate about animals but that doesn’t make me a good vet.

I’m not sure I agree passion is the building block.

Passion is a strange word to use about a job. Enthusiasm yes but passion?

Passion is a strange word to use about a job. Enthusiasm yes but passion?

I’m absolutely passionate about inclusion and allowing children with SEND to reach their potential. I don’t think it’s the wrong word to use.

PurpleDaisies, you've misunderstood. It's not the ONLY thing, there has to be ability, talent and competence - but without passion for the job, it's pointless.

If you weren't passionate about animals you wouldn't/couldn't be a good vet and I won't believe you if you say otherwise. I've known vets that do not love animals and they're cheap, they have to be because people who do love their pets won't take them there, not for anything.

Ditto to continually, I'm quite sure I disagree with your view but there we are. Being dispassionate in a job where you are moulding and shaping young people is doing them a great disservice and don't think that it isn't noticed.

I wouldn't worry at all about your size/weight, but I would encourage you to see if there are things you can do to increase your fitness and mobility. There are always ways to manage, but there are things about the job that are much easier if you can move more easily.