to think that this person is not a suitable teacher

[MsJRMEsq]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-49177014

A teacher got drunk at a school's end of year prom, told male pupils the girls were "gagging for it" and threatened to "knock out" the school principal, a panel heard.

He told the panel he heard him say: "Lads, you need to go where this lot are for the after party, they are gagging for it", referring to the female pupils.

I agree InTheHeatofLisbon.

I think we need to keep a sense of proportion here in that a professional warning that follows him around is probably appropriate. Otherwise we start saying that some bellend who pathetically tries to be cool in front of 16 year olds is worthy of the same sanction as a 32 year old man who has been sleeping with a 15 year old student.

“but making comments that sexualise children”
Calm down. He was talking to 16yr old boys about 16yr old girls who are legally of the age of consent for sexual activity.

I'm perfectly calm, thanks. His comments were sexually suggestive and 16 year olds are still children, the fact that these children were over the age of consent doesn't change that.

I think we need to keep a sense of proportion here in that a professional warning that follows him around is probably appropriate.

I'd agree with that, on the condition that any repetition of said views would result in stronger action.

His comments were sexually suggestive and 16 year olds are still children, the fact that these children were over the age of consent doesn't change that.

He did, but the comment did not suggest at all that he was looking at the girls sexually. He referred to the fact that the boys might be, and, let’s face it, at 16 some of them probably were. It was inappropriate but I don’t find it disturbing. It’s certainly tame compared to some of the stuff I had said to me by young men at a similar age.

It doesn’t help to try to turn teachers into saints. Teachers are people and - like everyone - sometimes they will think things that are inappropriate to say, or do things that would be fine in one context (like drinking 6 pints) but not another. He has borne the consequences of his poor judgement.

I'd agree with that, on the condition that any repetition of said views would result in stronger action.
I 100% agree with you on this.

Or if there were any concerns within his future places of work, it would be bounced straight up to the professional body again and not an internal procedure.

Or if there were any concerns within his future places of work, it would be bounced straight up to the professional body again and not an internal procedure.

Absolutely.

His comments were sexually suggestive and 16 year olds are still children, the fact that these children are over the age of consent doesn't change that
Except that it does. Either 16 year old people can consent to sex, or they can't. If they legally can consent to sex, then they aren't children, seeing as children cannot legally consent to sex.
Yes, it is a bit confusing, but 16 as the AOC is generally accepted in the UK, then we must accept that 16 year olds are sexually autonomous, and therefore are adults in that sense.
Doesn't mean this teacher wasn't out of order though, he was, but only because of the teacher student role.

Anytime you are at school or a school event on or off site, or in a place locally with pupils (think village fete etc), you are 'at work', IMHO. Don't drink, don't embarrass yourself or call your own behaviour into question. It's not difficult. (Teacher for 25+ years, work local to where I live). It's never worth it.

He did, but the comment did not suggest at all that he was looking at the girls sexually. He referred to the fact that the boys might be,

He was commenting on the girls. He told the boys the girls were “gagging for it”. Not that the boys were.

Yes, it is a bit confusing, but 16 as the AOC is generally accepted in the UK, then we must accept that 16 year olds are sexually autonomous, and therefore are adults in that sense.

The AOC isn’t 16 when it comes to teachers though - its 18.

He’s lucky the “inciting a child to engage in sexual activity” isn’t about inciting sex between two children as that covers up to 18 in his position.

SheilaHammond
I agree in principle as long as we are talking reasonable behaviour of adults. It's perfectly legal for adults to have a social drink, go to concerts and so on. I regularly see students at sporting events and they've seen me in my running shorts covered in mud and looking a mess . I've also seen students and ex students in pubs though I'm not a big drinker.

Once a family friend (6th form at the time) was ranting to me about how awful it was that they saw teachers out drinking on Saturday night. They were in a local club and having a laugh. The 17 year old students were sipping prosecco and delighting in how mature they are, in what I subsequently found to be their usual fun police fashion.

I was a teacher at this point and pointed out that as long as they're not drunken disorderly, it's not illegal for adults to drinks and dance, regardless if a few jumped up, judgey 17 year olds wanted to develop a sneering superiority beyond their years. It didn't go down well but they seriously needed to get a grip.

But this was at a school event with year 11s so they weren't old enough to drink. To be drunk in front of them is embarrassing. To make an objectifying comment towards the girls is despicable.
I've recently read a great book about things like this. Teachers acting like this makes the job harder for the rest of us. The book is called Boys Don't Try and it's great.

He was commenting on the girls. He told the boys the girls were “gagging for it”. Not that the boys were.

We don’t know precisely what he said. But what I mean is, there is no suggestion that he was sexually interested in the female students.

GrammarTeacher
To be drunk in front of students is embarrassing.
I also agree with you on teachers being mates with students makes our lives harder. The pandering to lad culture actively makes it harder for boys, especially disengaged boys, to feel confident applying themselves.

Any teacher who talks about his students in that way is unfit for a number of reasons

The pandering to lad culture actively makes it harder for boys, especially disengaged boys, to feel confident applying themselves

It also makes it a bazillion times harder for those members of staff who make a point of challenging it.

He drank too much at the prom and made a prat out of himself.
He should be read the riot act, bollocked, and everyone moves on.
Seriously, just get a fucking grip people.

Absolutely, if he were one of the students. But he was one of the teachers.

How old is year 11 anyway? Why was there alcohol at the event?

Dick should have been struck off but who's gonna employ him now?

No, that's beyond the pale. He shouldn't teach.

Anyone who says a group of women of what ever age is 'gagging for it' is a generalising twat, but 100 times more so in this case as it was about 16 year olds. There was one thing I wasn't at the age of 16 and that was gagging for it.

There's very little to distinguish between that comment and the now infamous pussy grabbing comment. They are both completely indicative of the speakers mind set in general.

It's disgusting thing for a 29 year old man to think about a group of teenage girls. Let alone say out loud. Let alone when he's their teacher.

It's like something from days gone by when male teachers making leery comments and "dating" senior girls was accepted

It also makes it a bazillion times harder for those members of staff who make a point of challenging it.
X 1,000,000

Especially when those of us who challenge lad culture have to do it without saying 'the reason I am not sound like Mr Brown is because I am confident in myself and have standards, thus I don't require validation from teenagers, nor do I see your worship and adoration. What I will do is always be a safe and secure adult who cares about you deeply and will do all I can reasonably do to ensure you feel safe and can thrive. Sadly Mr Brown is too busy discussing Love Island and Youtubers with the loudest boys in the class to care that much about the rest of you'.

Yep Lola

It takes three times as long to unpick this stuff if when you say “look, lads, you’re being a misogynistic throwback by disrespecting the girls like that” they can say “but Mr Brown thinks it’s jokes!”

Some of the girls would still have been 15.
I’d have been seriously pissed off if this was a teacher at my DDs school. I’d also feel the same way if I had boys.

Prom (for yr11) at our school is always well attended by staff and the pupils appreciate that attendance as a celebration of their time at the school. Generally staff will stick to non alcoholic drinks or will have one or two drinks. I agree with the earlier post though-I'm an event for 16 and under- maybe alcohol shouldn't actually be an option anyway? Though to be fair, each professional adult there should be aware of the professional standards they are responsible for upholding and shouldn't allow a desire to be 'down with the kids' or 'cool' to override that!-