can the school fire me for being 'too pretty'?

Question

im almost 27 years old and im a math teacher for my high school and i am also the dance coach. however, i used to be a model for victorias secret [not the underwear, just thier clothing line] / dancer before i got into teaching. i think im a good teacher, my students respect me and like me [ive been voted best teacher] and i think thats because i understand them and dont treat them like children. anyway, i heard one of the other teachers talking about me, saying that i was a distraction to the students and to certain 'male teachers'. can the school fire me for being 'too pretty'?? my students do excellent in my class, and i cnat really control how i look or how they act. and as for the 'male teachers'....well what can you do?? im already in a good relationship with one of the other math teachers. so should i be intimidated?

Answer 1

If you are a non-tenured teacher, yes, you can be fired. Follow the paper trail. Are your observations poor? Being voted Best Teacher is nothing more than a popularity contest. If you claim your kids do well, how is that measured? Do you have copies of standardized test scores? What is your rapport like with your immediate supervisor or department chair, your colleagues, the principal? On what legal grounds would you be terminated?
If your teaching practices are questionable, then your district will put you on an improvement/corrective action plan, assign you a mentor, and monitor your progress. Has that happened? Or are you truly worried about getting fired because of your good looks? I'd also be very careful about dating a co-worker. I've seen that blow-up so many times it's not even funny. And the kids tend to blow the gossip out of proportion too.

Answer 2

Regardless if you were a model or not, you can't be fired from your job for being "too pretty". If you aren't causing the distractions purposefully; You're not dressing to "distract"; then you can't be fired. It would be discrimination. If you are as you say "too pretty" then I would think that the female teachers around you are being typical females when confronted with someone prettier than they, and just being vindictive out of jealousy. The male teachers need a cold shower and to refocus on the students.

You have a choice to make. Either you continue to be a "good teacher" which the education system needs badly, OR you can choose to let them run you off.

And, even if you didn't intend to, you sound pretty conceieted in your question. Conceit will get you discrimination.

Answer 3

No way. They can't fire you because of your looks. Unfortunately, they could make up some other reason and fire you anyway.

Getting along with everyone at the workplace helps the strengthen job security. Unfortunately, keeping a job doesn't only mean being good at what you do. It's having good relationships with the ppl you work with as well.

It's unfair that people would judge you because of looks, but such is life. If it's important to you, I would suggest making an effort to befriend some more coworkers and show them you're a nice and interesting person, not just an ex-model. Sadly it's easy for us to make assumptions about others. I've found that it's suprisingly easy to reverse those assumptions with some sincerity and effort.

Best of luck, and if you are ever fired, and believe it's attributed to your physique... SUE SUE SUE!!!

Answer 4

No, but I would watch my back. If the other teachers don't like you or are jealous (because you are pretty and talented) then anything you do may be misconstrued to management. And management is always wary of anyone that is upsetting the apple cart, even if it is not their fault!

Not that I would go out of my way to not be "pretty" but I would make a concerted effort to dress extra conservatively while at school, pull your hair back, that kind of thing. I would not be flirtatious or anything that even looks like flirtatious with the male instructors -- often dating colleagues is very much frowned upon.

As a new teacher, you really need to be careful! You don't want anything suspicious on your job record, even if it is not your fault.

Answer 5

you can't be fired for this, and maybe the other teacher's are jealous of your relationship with the students. however, speaking as a young teacher who has a very young face....you may need to make extra effort...not to look "ugly," but to especially professional. i am a young person who enjoys clothing that is for my age group. however, if i wore that stuff...i'd look like the kids!! so, at work i dress a bit more conservatively than i normally would. and yeah...i guess i don't look as cute as i would like...but it's WORK! i'm not trying, nor to i need, to impress anyone with my body, only with my skill.

so....just make sure your clothes are loose enough, and your neckline is high enough, act in a professional manner, and who cares that the other teachers say beyond that. if you find you do need to change some things about your clothing...remember, with all the bad press about teacher/student relationships...you are not giving in to other teachers, you are protecting your job, your reputation, and your future!

Answer 6

Eh, I would've assumed that if this was a teacher typing/speaking, simple typing grammar would've been used, lol.

Anyway, if that's not the case...

I'll say that no, they can't fire you. That's sorta like...discrimination? s: And if your students are doing especially well, then I don't see a problem with it. I just think the teachers are getting a bit jealous. If it bothers you enough that a teacher is going around saying these things behind your back, you should bring it up with administration or something.

Answer 7

I don't think you can be fired for being ''to pretty.''
Thats Just an opinion that someone said about you. Thats just them. I mean I would take ''too pretty'' as a compliment. Thats you, and you probably are very pretty. You can't really do anyhting about it. I would just forget about what that teacher said and move on. Your lucky, and just be happy for who you are. The students voted you as ''best teacher.'' Thats great! Which means, they all really like having you as a teacher, and being taught by you. Good luck. Don't worry about what other think about you, it's you, you should be worrying about if anyone should
judge. -hoopey12

Answer 8

Absolutely not. That's descrimination on the basis of appearance, and is illegal. It sounds like people are just gossiping, the way people always do. I would blow it off, and just be the best teacher you can be. However, if it starts to really bother you, consider talking to the people involved or speaking to your principal about your concerns. But seriously, it doesn't sound like it's even near the firing stage, so calm down and don't worry about it.

That said, if it ever does near that stage, speak to your union representative about discrimination on the basis of appearance. If that fails, contact your local ACLU. They work with people in circumstances where large companies or government agencies (your school) discriminate. Often a simple letter from the union or ACLU is enough to stop any intimidation in its tracks. But again, do not bother them with gossip. . .only contact them if it looks like you're actually going to be fired or punished somehow for your appearance.

Mostly, just blow it off. . .people will find something else to talk about.

Answer 9

This sounds like a typical case of on the job jealousy. You kind of 'have it all' or appear to with some of these other teachers, and they are jealous. You do your job, and that is what is important. No, do not feel intimidated.

Answer 10

You CAN control how you look. What are you wearing? Revealing clothes? You don't have to dress like a grandmother, but you don't have to dress like a you know what, either. As for dating another colleague....not a good idea and some employers frown on that. Unless you're in your first 90 days on the job, they have to have just cause for firing you.