Someplace in the interior of the US state of Georgia exists a 4th grade teacher with an image that went viral.
Partice Brown has had about equal number of people thinking she's a harlot for the way she dresses, split to, a fine specimen of black womanhood.
Me, I think the way she dresses is her business and given her students are 9-10 if they are thinking sexual thought about her then it sure isn't the problem with the school nor the teacher. And if they were 14 or 15 year old boys, and she was their teacher in say maths. I can guarantee that she would bring in the highest marks in the State. And for heavens sake 15 year old boys are randy little sods and sure as shooting manage things on their own.
On the whole my issue would be that the salmon coloured dress is under so much stress that it couldn't be comfy.
Partice Brown has had about equal number of people thinking she's a harlot for the way she dresses, split to, a fine specimen of black womanhood.
Me, I think the way she dresses is her business and given her students are 9-10 if they are thinking sexual thought about her then it sure isn't the problem with the school nor the teacher. And if they were 14 or 15 year old boys, and she was their teacher in say maths. I can guarantee that she would bring in the highest marks in the State. And for heavens sake 15 year old boys are randy little sods and sure as shooting manage things on their own.
On the whole my issue would be that the salmon coloured dress is under so much stress that it couldn't be comfy.
Sometimes I feel so out of touch. I have to read a blogger from Ireland to find out about a teacher in my own state...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't usually print anything like this but it's the heat and light it's generating that I think is truly over the top. And one that wouldn't get beyond the school gate but 10 years ago.
DeleteBut to show how far it's gone I linked to the UK newspaper The Telegraph.
Remembering back to my 15 year old days, the teacher could be covered head to toe in flour sacks and it wouldn't have made a difference.
ReplyDeleteOur school of which I'm on the board solves this problem by putting a professional dress code in our contracts. If they want to teach there, they dress appropriately for a private Catholic school.
Yeah, but what does it mean. And how the dickens can you enforce it if the teachers union decides to back the teachers play in the courts.
DeleteI don't understand why some are trying to make this a race issue. What does that have to do with anything?
ReplyDeleteI have two daughters. One loves tight clothing, the other doesn't. Although I would find this teacher's tight dresses terribly uncomfortable, it's the shoes that would kill me!
I think kids like bright confident people and if spraying that dress on her does that, who cares. As to why it's a race issue. I'll go with few if any white chicks are shipped with that type of body.
DeleteBut I do think if this occurred a few years back someone would've said something in her ear and she'd have toned it down a bit. And really she has everything covered, tightly :-).
Well, you're right about that probably being more of a black body shape but... my daughter of the tight clothes is definitely a shapely hourglass and has been told by her share of black guys that she has a fine a$$. Her biggest complaint is that it can be hard to buy jeans that fit well. Still.... I think anyone trying to turn it into a race issue is just looking to stir up trouble.
DeleteAnd perhaps not on this woman's level, but my goodness - some of the dresses I've seen Nigella Lawson poured into!
I suppose jeans are made with ratios in mind, X waist with Y leg. At least thats how we roll anyway. I know you girls are build a bit differently, thank god :-).
DeleteI mostly agree with you and this underscores why social media has gotten so out of hand. This should have been a matter between a teacher and the administration but because there are now so few unpublished thoughts, the world gets to weigh in. But again, since you brought it up, I'm rooting for the teacher here.
ReplyDeleteSorry Bob, I missed you there.
DeleteThis tend to the perennial socratic question about the roll of the personal and the roll of the State. And at what point is something impinging upon the development of the youth.
Me, I lean towards the 'who cares', and was shocked that it raised such ire and so rapidly for you'd not think Instagram was the home to staunch conservatives. Facebook yes, even Twitter, but not Instagram or Smapchat. Plus, I really can't see what the hell the girl can do anyway, she's what used to be called a 'generously proportioned girl' back a while.
"Wahhhhhhh, I just wish everyone would stop talking about me and leave me alone to dress how I want after posting all over social media." There are three issues here and the first two being the most important. STOP PUTTING EVERYTHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA and I just wish the "news" would stop reporting on what's on social media...it's not news. Who cares what she wore but the problem is you put it up someone is going to have an opinion. This is simply a case of "look at me, look at me". Then the stupid news reports it like news. I don't know if you heard about it over there, but last year around the holidays the internet imploded over Starbucks' red holiday cup. It was on the news for days, and as it turns out, it was some dumb guy who makes these rant videos, it was posted on Facebook and the news lost its mind. This sounds like that story. Making news out of nothing.
ReplyDeleteThe final issue and the one I have the least concern over is her actual outfits. Personally, I couldn't teach if I wore them. How does she sit on the floor and read with them or have PE? However, if that's how she rolls, then who cares. Her shape would mostly likely make anything she wore look tight and and like she was trying to be overly-"sexy". There are certainly bigger things to worry about. However, I will add, that if there is a dress code the school or district has set forth and she's not following it, then that is a different story.
Yes to the 'look at me'. And the putting stuff on Twitter slash Instagram and expecting all good comment. In her defence, and with my Devil's Advocate hat on, she wasn't expecting the heat coming from the quarter about her being a teacher dressed like that. And I do think you are correct. She, in anything other than a tent-like Momo or nuns garb is going to push the seams. They don't make garments made for her. :-)
DeleteI wonder about dress codes, and how far they can be pushed legally speaking. As Ed wrote above the Catholic Schools have a sorta catch all Appropriate to the Ethos of the Institution. But the reality of that statement is 'we'd put you in a nun's habit if we could get away with it' and 'we are really annoyed that the teaching orders are disappearing'. And it's easy to make that case, a case that would fall.
Then you have the other issue, how far is too far. Back in the 60's you had teachers in the UK going into schools in mini skirts. Something I expect that would redefine 'lift with you knees'.
Devil's devil's advocate... then don't take the pics in your classroom!!! ;)
DeleteYah the dress code thing is probably not something you can hold anyone down to unless it's specifics, and even then they'd be splitting hairs. I think the policy is something like "safe and appropriate". Who seems it safe and appropriate? I don't know.
To add, my school's policy is something like...
DeleteAnd deems not seems!
At the car wash so on my phone and it is the worst when writing long comments!!
Yep, that's what I think too. There's no real way to define it, and because of that will always fall on the side of the citizen. At least you'd hope so anyway.
DeleteIt might be a harder spot if you were in a religious school where they may not be unionised. But I expect the teachers unions would attempt to aid such a person victimised get their day in court.