On most mornings I listen to “Elliot in the morning” on my way into work. One morning last week, they were discussing the issue of teachers that have worked as strippers. After our reading on socialization last week, I thought it might be a good topic to look at sociologically.
I guess the first question to ask is, “why are the lives of teachers so susceptible to scrutiny by the community?” The answer is obvious. Because they’re teaching our children more than arithmetic and reading, they are also teaching them to be functional members of society. In other words, they’re agents of socialization and important ones at that. In fact, after starting on this, I looked over the section on agents of socialization in the course text and found that teachers are mentioned explicitly on page 127. On page 132, the text talks about roles and role conflicts.
The roles of teacher and stripper conflict. In the US and in many other countries, we’re uncomfortable with open expressions of sexuality, especially when it involves an exchange of money. I think it’s reasonable to say that stripping is seen as immoral by many in America. If that is a fair judgment is another discussion, but we all agree that teachers are supposed to be upstanding members of the community. They address the hidden curriculum, teaching us to be productive people and also influencing our ethic. On the other hand, there are other activities that teachers could be involved in that may or may not be seen as acceptable by a majority. A pro gun-control parent probably wouldn’t like it if his children were taught by an avid member of the NRA. But membership in the NRA definitely wouldn’t be grounds for dismissal from a teaching position, as stripping might be. Why would we allow one situation and not the other?
A good teacher leaves their “controversial” beliefs at home. You could say the gun enthusiast would leave his politics at home. But couldn’t the same be said for the ex-stripper. If there is a role conflict, a good teacher should be able to reconcile those roles. Maybe by exiting from one role, as with stripping, or by not promoting individual beliefs, as with the gun enthusiast. Therefore, we should be concerned more with the teacher’s ability to recognize what beliefs are widely accepted and only bring those to the classroom. And, of course, the other primary concern is the ability to actually teach the academic subjects.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think that something as petty as stripping in the past should not affect someones career in the future. I understand that leaders such as teachers play a major role in the lives of students, but as long as a teacher leaves their personal lives behind, it should not matter.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI, like most people think that stripping is immoral, but I also believe in second chances. The teacher should have been given a second chance. We all have done things that we regret or that are viewed as wrong even immoral at times. She is an "ex", meaning she is no longer a stripper, and chances are that if she decided to stop is because she realized that it wasn't what or who she wanted to be, therefore should be given a second chance to make a positive impact teaching.
ReplyDeleteI am confused by this post. I thought it was on strippers by night teachers by day.... but I guess it is an ex stripper and I think you should NOT be judged by your past. I think we need to pay teachers more so that they do not need to degrade themselves in order to survive out there. I mean the teachers are the ones making a difference and impacting children's lives.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at a stripper right away you think of someone who is immoral. however what about the strippers who cannot get any other job than that to feed her children while going to school. Or the ones who are working on going to school but needs moeny. Or the mom who is trying to make fast cash so her children can have a good christmas. We jusge strippers on the fact of what? They are working and yes it may be different than most jobs but they are working. So a teacher stripped in the past so what. How are the children going to know unless she tells them. She is teaching the kids about reading, math, and so on. Not on how she stripped in her past to get where she is today
ReplyDeleteyea i think regardless of a mistake that someone makes in the past it shoould not affect the future to a certain extennt. people should get second chances. and who knows mayb that stripper had to do it for survival?
ReplyDelete