smoking teachers.

[petal]

'removed just in case nosy parkers go snooping on here!' Can teachers smoke in front of children.?

[Flummery]

I'm on your side there. And I'm a size 16 and tall with it. Shall I duff him up for you? think he was rude because he was on the defensive. He knows you're right.

[Alice]

Off course he shouldn't be smoking in front of the children. But he does have a point about weight. It doesn't matter if you're a size 14 - you could have a model figure in that dress size. It's the height to weight ratio that matters and decides if you're fat. Maybe teachers do have an obligation in that department as well. If the argument is children will think it's all right to smoke because the teacher smokes then they will also think it's allright to be fat because the teacher's fat. It doesn't just relate to teachers - plenty of fat parents, doctors and nurses about.
I'm not knoccking anybody here, just making the analogy.

[smallblueplanet]

.........He was just taking a cheap shot...I think you should discuss the 'issue' with the Head as its easy to think such things aren't important, but they are.

[petal]

Hmm, removed again incase...

[lynda66]

last school i worked in, we never dreamed of smoking .... went to work, came home had a ciggy ..... actually most of the teachers smoked, but it wasn't allowed in the staff room, or outside the gates ...... though we also taught the kids healthy cooking/eating, so seems a bit hypocritical to be pushing the health message, then to do completely the opposite.

[beefy]

I work in a school (groundsperson) and smoking is not allowed on school premises here in Northern Ireland and I can't see any reason why it would be any different in England ,Scotland or Wales.
I'm an ex smoker but would never have smoked in a room with kids or anyone for that matter who did not smoke - I always took it outside. Common courtesey nothing more.

[digthatchick]

I am not especially overweight (size 14), big bum/boobs and do loads of exercise, and eat healthily- I have never wanted to be a skinny.

Smoking in front of children sends out the wrong message - your description of yourself sends out a good message - eat healthy, exercise, and be happy in your own skin. (you sound great to me anyhow )

[Paulottie]

It is not as yet illegal to smoke (justabout) and if he isn't on school premises he has every right to smoke if he wishes. I think it is horrid that now everyone must smoke in doorways. I expect, if he wasn't already having a bad day, he was just about sick of being hounded for his habit, He probably wished there was an 'enclosed room' for him and his fellow lepers too. ... and I could probably sympathise with him in thinking you should perhaps mind your own business.

None of this however excuses him for being rude to you, I would be far more disheartened should my children hear him being so discourteous rather than see him smoking and thus.... he loses my vote.

[FionaH]

Absoloutly flaming outrageous! Since when has a healthy size 14 been fat??!! Our society is obsessed with unhealthy body images which is incredibly damaging to young people (or anyone else for that matter)
Of course it is unproffesional to be having a fag outside school he's a teacher for goodness sake. He cant teach healthy living as part of the national curriculum and then light up. He obviously knew he was in the wrong and reacted defensively. However he had no right to call you fat GRRRRRRRRRRRRR
As a smoker I am well aware it is an addiction but I do try and minimise the effect that addiction has on others. He should have more sense <deep breath>

Ok rant over.

[nelliegemini]

Another ex-smoker here. Smoking was my best buddy, you criticise my buddy, then you are criticising me and I would rear up. No excuse but hey, that's the way it was.

Do kids still have teachers as a role model (perhaps it depends on the kids ages)? Perhaps him smoking reinforces their view that teachers are old, dulll and uncool - bit like leather elbow patches in t'old days.

BUT - sad that his social skills are so poor that his only defense is attack - maybe that is the worrying thing he is passing on to his students.

[willowstar]

hmmm...he shouldn't have lashed out at you, but...I don't think teachers should be paragons of virtue, same as doctors and nurses. we are all human. Maybe not great he is smoking outside of the school gates but if he is a smoker he probably doesn't have much choice.

[di]

I totally agree that he was in the wrong for insulting you about your weight~size 14 is not obese(is it?).I also agree that it's not ideal for teachers to be smoking outside the school gates....however,as a grown man he has the right to smoke if he pleases & maybe if the government hadn't tried to dictate so much as to where people couldn't smoke,then maybe there'd be a more sheltered/hidden from pupils spot where he could smoke in private away from pupils sight?..I can imagine how stressful teaching can be & for someone who(rightly or wrongly)choses to release some of that stress by having a quick ciggie...should they really be denied??I don't know?

[smallblueplanet]

What would you have said if he'd have a quick slug of gin or methadone or shot up?

[di]

What would you have said if he'd have a quick slug of gin or methadone or shot up?

I'd say the big difference here is that..presumably when he signed his teaching contract it was understood that drinking or shooting up on duty was prohibited,however until recently no such laws were applicable concerning smoking??
I wholeheartedly agree that it's totally undesirable for teachers to be smoking just outside the gates in view of pupils,but also feel for anyone that still feels the need for a smoke when times are tough.Other than schools providing a hidden outdoor area where teachers can escape for 5 mins(whether smokers or not!)sorry I don't know the answer!!