Job Discussion Forums

[anthyp]

Excellent post, leeroy. Capergirl didn't even mention whitjohn in her OP. I think she was talking about the kinds of teachers who shouldn't be teaching. Look, you can defend somebody's right to privacy, but we are talking about teachers here, and some of the actions we've seen lately are hardly appropriate for a teacher. Morality has nothing to do with this. And to say that there are far worse people in this profession than whitjohn or so - and - so is completely missing the point. Those other people shouldn't be teaching, either.

[Bindair Dundat]

[anthyp]

Well, I am not the type of person to break out the dictionary when trying to explain what I mean. I was trying to distinguish between actions that one might find inappropriate based on one's personal code of ethics (what I meant by "morality"), and behavior clearly wrong for a teacher. Please spare me the dictionary definition; I admit I didn't use the term correctly there. But banging one's students or posting lewd comments about them (or both) certainly falls under the latter.

You can have no problem with what he's doing - it's true, there's a lot worse going on in this world ... but whitjohn is a teacher, and nobody can say this is suitable behavior for a teacher. Don't confuse the point of the OP by making this a "moral police" - type issue. It's not nearly as complex as that. Certain actions are clearly inappropriate for a teacher.

[Bindair Dundat]

[arioch36]

Sid Jameson wrote

[James_T_Kirk]

[anthyp]

Neither am I one of those who likes to quote entire passages from posts, asking self - congratulatory, smart - alecky questions after each selection, in an attempt to avoid addressing the issue directly. Come on, you can play all the cutesy word games you want. Certain actions are just inappropriate for a teacher. No "universal code of ethics" for teachers exists, I agree with you there. None should. But

1. Banging one's students
2. Posting photos with lewd comments about them on the web

Certainly falls under the category of "inappropriate behavior for teachers." Are you being serious here? Nobody in the world would say this is appropriate behavior for a teacher. Would you?

[Aramas]

That list could be extended to include violent or abusive behaviour, sexist or racist comments, inappropriate dress or grooming, tardiness etc. However, none of those things involve sex, and as we all know, sex is filthy and digusting and it must be stopped!

The thing is that teachers are no different to anyone else. The term 'professional' has become meaningless in that it now refers to sports people, pool boys and garbage men etc.. Being 'professional' means turning up on time, dressing appropriately and delivering a product or service of marketable quality. It doesn't, however, define what is appropriate. The schoolmarms are trying to bully their way into establishing the EFL industry's version of a Code of Ethics, which apart from its comedic value doesn't have a lot to recommend it.

How about If your principle goal is to lord it over your students, you are not fit for a career in teaching. ?

It addresses the sex issue along with violence, racism, sexism and verbal abuse, but I doubt it will prove popular. After all, sex is evil, and it sells. I suspect that a lot of EFL teachers get off on their percieved social status, and feel that lording it over students is their god given right. Teachers, like nurses, shopkeepers, butchers, bakers and candlestick makers are traditionally considered to be upper working-class, and should not be confused with lecturers or tutors at universities. While technically teaching and nursing have been raised to the level of a 'profession' in recent years, their social status hasn't, and is still the same as it always was - and that makes some people's shoulder-chips itch. Some people just like the feel of bunched panties, I suppose

[rj]

For those who think that there is nothing wrong with a teacher's primary goal being to bang their students, would you also agree that it is acceptable to mention that during your interview? I have yet to see any posts in this forum that advocate doing that, but I have seen several stating that under no circumstances should you include that kind of information in the hiring process. If there is nothing wrong with it, then what is the harm in admitting it? Surely there are some enlightened university employers out there who wouldn't get their panties in a bunch over such a thing.

[Aramas]

There's a difference between thinking there's nothing wrong with it and figuring that it's none of my business. When did it become compulsory for EFL teachers to share a hive mind?

[Bindair Dundat]

[tgb]

[arioch36]

I do know of a 60 year old Aussie thinking of marrying a 28 ??? y/o Chinese girl. But he is only going after one girl, with a serious interest, not going after multiple girl students, and not posting his exploits on the web.

[tgb]

[Bindair Dundat]