I’m beginning to dread being a teacher… I don’t want to be a role model simply because I have never been one and I don’t think I will ever be one.
… and this frustration stemmed from the fact that 2 teachers pulled me aside and kindly told me that they hate to tell me this but I would have to cut my hair and have it dyed black because TEACHERS have to be role models for their students. Being me, I would ask (but I didn’t, of course): how does my appearance make me less of a role model?
Ok, I know I will kena shoot badly by saying that… but I’m serious! If I’m less of a role model, maybe – just maybe – they should ban mass media from kids altogether @@
Well, perhaps I haven’t considered from every plausible perspective but I still don’t get it… who – tell me who – said teachers MUST be like this… and like that? When will we ever stop stereotyping and delve deeper into the qualities that make a better teacher? So should I look nerdy to be a good teacher? Wth.
Argh, ok. I know I am NOT making any sense here BUT that’s because I have to cut my hair short! =( Yes, it’s ALL about my hair! Bleah… and nope, I didn’t dye it black after all… the dyed parts were sniped off anyway… Bwah.
Shit. Once again, I was told by 2 relief teachers who are 5 years younger than me that I look just like them – like a 19-year-old. How much younger would I look tomorrow with my short crop? Hmm, I’ll probably look young enough to sneak into a Sec 4 class without anyone suspecting… hee.
P.S.
Ok, I’m NOT that superficial if you’re beginning to question if MOE has made the right choice in choosing me as a teacher… I’m just… complaining… for the sake of complaining. I STILL want to mould the future k? hah.
2 responses so far ↓
twins // June 23, 2008 at 10:41 pm |
you know what? i totally agree with you. i dont think that a teacher’s appearance (as long as it is presentable) should be used as a basis for being a role model. that’s suffocating a teacher’s own freedom of expression of oneself since appearance really tells alot about a person.i mean the students are probably going to get their hairs dyed and wear colored socks or something as soon as they can or as soon as the teachers are not looking so why make life so difficult for yourself? uniformity is already there when pupils wear the same uniforms but really, going down to the color of the hair and all? well ok i dont think pupils should have their hair dyed blonde or something but brown should be ok. Otherwise we can also have people claiming that their hair is naturally brown because they swim alot or they hang out a whole lot in the sun or something…
yea mass media…that’s basically what forms our concept of what is acceptable and what isn’t. in many ways, it also distorts our values and continually recreates our social constructs. Many years ago, to be fat was beautiful…look at the increasing anorexic/bulimic rates.
okie i m just rambling on so forgive me. =p soorry about ur hair. it will regrow and if u want to redye it, we are willing to experiment…we’ve tried it before. *grin*
kimi // July 9, 2008 at 3:51 pm |
Oh come on, why is it that male teachers can’t dye their hair. Long unkept hair aside, I think a Steven Seagal-ish length of hair, properly tied back for male teachers is perfectly fine! Why is it that female teachers can dye their hair and have a significantly more relaxed dress code when coming to school?
As much as MOE and school principals would like to harbour conservative and politically correct notions that kids these days are influenced by their educators/teachers, their not. It’s 2008, not 1908. To a certain extent they do get some ideas from their teachers but what’s stopping them from turning on the tv, computer or reading magazines where they show Britney Spears sans the bottom half of a Victoria’s Secret two piece?
To place some importance on a squeeky clean image is understandable since teachers are somewhat the front line personell of MOE, but to mix up what makes a good role model with how a person looks like is just stupid. That said, I’ll applaud any school principal who relaxes the too tight grip on what, how, wear of teachers. Especially male ones. Hmph.