"The moral look of a bathing suit": Teachers on the right to privacy
Many schoolassociated with prohibitions - primarily regarding appearance. Often, restrictions are imposed not only on students, but also teachers. Conflicts are inevitable: at the end of March, a teacher at the Barnaul school, Tatyana Kuvshinnikova, was forced to resign due to leadership pressure after she published photos of her sporting clothes and evening dress in social networks — according to her, the director considered them a “stain” on reputation schools. This is not the only such case: last year a teacher from Omsk, Victoria Popova, was forced to resign because of pictures in a swimsuit.
In defense of Tatyana Kuvshinnikova, her colleagues launched a flashmob # TeachersTozhePely. We talked with several teachers from different cities of Russia about social networks and the right to privacy.
Alexander Savina
Catherine
Nizhny Novgorod
I think that there are things that should be prohibited for everyone, regardless of profession - say, interracial hatred - but they are already prohibited by law. But to discuss the moral character of a teacher in a bathing suit is beyond my comprehension. If something is allowed to other people, why did the teachers deserve a ban, for example, to upload photos from the beach? From the point of view of the rule of law, everyone has the right to rest and privacy - why are teachers and doctors denied this right?
Yes, the profession of a teacher requires certain personal qualities - above all, of course, professionalism, knowledge of the subject. I believe that it is difficult to work at school without love for children: each child is individual and you need to find an approach to each. The teacher's profession is full of difficulties and joys, sometimes emotionally exhausting, so it’s impossible to be a teacher for twenty-four hours a day. Teachers are people too, they have holidays, vacations, friends and families. But active social life does not contradict the title of a teacher. The quality of education does not suffer from the presence or absence of tattoos or photographs in a bathing suit.
I was lucky with the school, my parents and the administration, I did not encounter harassment. But, unfortunately, I heard a lot of stories about my colleagues, whose parents complained to the administration - and that, instead of protecting the teacher, was in the wake of the public, sometimes losing a competent specialist.
Evgeniya Simakova
graduate of the program "Teacher for Russia", worked in the Tambov region
It is not clear to me how the photo in a bathing suit, evening dress, and even in a hedgehog suit, is connected with the professional qualities of a teacher. If the qualification and quality of work meets the requirements of the school, then life outside of work should not influence anything. As if no other teacher had ever worn a swimsuit in his life - and in general teachers are not allowed to go to the beach. It is sad that a reverent attitude towards the teacher's profession, which is preserved in society, can be the cause of unjustified decisions.
As for working time, then, in my opinion, it is necessary to comply with the rules adopted in the school. Where I worked, there was no officially prescribed dress code. Rather, I myself chose clothes in an underlined official style so that at first I would not be confused with high school students - but, as far as I know, this often happens with young teachers. In this case, my tattoo on the neck did not embarrass either the administration, or colleagues, or the parents of my students.
Of course, distance in relations with students is important. But often it is a concrete fence, beyond which the other side is not visible. It is important for children to understand that a teacher is a person with his own characteristics, strengths and weaknesses. It is important for teachers to remember that a child learns to live in this world, seeking its place. If you remember that there are people nearby, and not functions, it is easier to communicate and understand them.
Tatyana Roslyakova
Peaceful
Frankly, I was surprised by the situation with Tatiana Kuvshinnikova. There was even a sense of deja vu, because last year a similar story had already happened - with Omsk teacher Viktoria Popova, who was also forced to leave school because of photos in a bathing suit, and after resonance in social networks, she was returned to her workplace. It would seem that the incident was settled, the society realized that teachers are people too - after all, judging by the comments, the majority were on the side of the teacher. And here, as they say, never was this and here again. And the claims sucked from the finger: a person leads a healthy lifestyle and sets an example to students! But many are willing to see the “dirt” in everything, ignoring common sense. I sincerely regret that Tatiana had to deal with such people. And it is very unpleasant that the school administration did not take the side of the teacher, but decided to follow the path of hypocrisy and indulgence in ignorance.
Of course, the teacher's profession imposes a number of restrictions on the image that he can demonstrate to others - in speech, and in appearance, and in actions and habits. But all these restrictions, in my opinion, do not differ from those that other sensible people set themselves. Yes, the teacher unwittingly sets an example to his students - whenever they see him. Like parents - to their children! And the photos of both teachers do not carry any bad example. They can only show that teachers are the same people, that they have hobbies that are not related to work, that they are interesting, lively, not complexed, but open lives. I think that it would not hurt to learn from some adults.
Svetlana P.
Moscow
The situation in which the teacher Tatyana Kuvshinnikova got into is absurd. In pursuit of false morality, parents and school leaders showed bigotry. I have been working in the education system for about thirty years and I can say that the teacher is an example for pupils. Tatyana Kuvshinnikova demonstrated to the students that she adheres to a healthy lifestyle. If this photo is considered indecent, then it is necessary to prohibit to show on television competitions in swimming, figure skating, gymnastics. This is nonsense.
In the Soviet school, as part of a physical education program, students engaged in various kinds of sports: playing (volleyball, basketball, football), athletics (running, long jumps, horse riding, etc.), skiing, swimming. Children passed swimming standards in the pool, where along with them in the water were physical education teachers in swimming trunks and swimsuits. It was ok. What has changed now? It's a shame that, in response to the prejudices of one person, the school principal made a non-professional, in my opinion, decision. Recently, unfortunately, parents quite often interfere in the educational process: they “teach” to conduct lessons, dictate administrations how to deal with subordinates. And now they consider themselves entitled to interfere in the personal life of teachers.
Alina Zrazhaeva
Moscow
I can say that I did not see anything outrageous or disturbing the imagination either in the photo in the evening dress, or in the photo in the bathing suit - especially since the latter was done not on the beach or in a bikini. And I certainly do not consider such photos as the reason for dismissing a teacher. After all, we, the teachers, are urged not to evaluate children in appearance, not to take into account the personal attitude towards the student when grading, but to look at his knowledge. So why not evaluate the teacher for his work? Of course, I do not call for going to work in pajamas or tracksuit and tops - in my opinion, each side has its time and place.
As for teachers and limitations in their appearance: at school, I think, this is permissible. I, for example, do not understand teachers who go in too short dresses or skirts, too tight fitting clothes. I do not condemn and do not think that they are getting worse from this, just wondering: why? Want attention? Show everyone that you are in great shape? But why in school? Have a personal time.
In my free time, I think the teacher should not have restrictions. But, I think, if you take something extravagant and put it on the Web, be ready (at least morally) to defend your right to it. Of course, in an ideal world, others do not care what you do in your free time - but we do not live in such a world. And the attitude in our country towards teachers is "special." Be ready for this - or do not pay attention.
To be honest, I myself, as a young teacher and person (intentional separation, yes), while it is difficult to understand the personal space, I am looking for the very balance to the touch. I teach at the Lyceum for the second year, and so far there have been no problems. My Instagram is closed, and therefore I post everything I want in it. Facebook is another matter, it is necessary for me to work (I am a journalist), its contents are accessible to all. But again - I do not have a photo in bathing suits. Why? I do not know. I don't participate in swims like Kuvshinskaya. And just like that ... Why do I need a phone on the beach?
Elena N.
Moscow
No matter how trite it may sound, the teacher is also human. Moreover, he is a person. And how can a person be a successful teacher who is not an independent and developed person? It seems to me that at school you need to comply with a certain dress code. For someone, it is determined in advance by the administration, contract or charter of the school, and someone develops it for himself. I think every good (or aspiring to be good) teacher understands how to look in class. He will not allow himself to be dressed untily, defiantly, to distract the children from the lesson by their appearance. In addition, as practice shows, children are pleased to see in front of them a person dressed comfortably, tastefully, stylishly, individually, and not a person "in the case" from office cliches.
As for private life, this is everyone’s business, the teacher is no exception. If a person works well, then it does not matter what he does outside of work (this does not apply to criminal behavior). We teach children to be understanding and tolerant (nowadays this word sounds for each iron), to accept others, regardless of their appearance and preferences - but they themselves are subjected to oppression because of their personal choice. It is very disappointing that teachers become practically powerless and defenseless in front of parents, as it is easier for the leadership to blame the teacher than to contradict them, although they often do not behave like "role models". But they, and not teachers, should basically be the standard of behavior for children.