Unprofessionalism

[deborahlane]

As a teacher, is it possible to be unprofessional in a situation where you are the pupil, during your private, non-school-related life?

My science tutor accused me of being unprofessional today.

Comments

[makropulos]

In non-school related life, where you are the pupil, and in private time?

I can't think of a single situation where you could reasonably called "unprofessional" in those circumstances.

And I'm sure you wouldn't be in *any* circumstances.

[deborahlane]

Yes, I was struggling to see how that one worked, too!

[lea724]

What happened that he/she called you that?

[deborahlane]

She isn't a particularly...polite teacher. She is condescending to quite a few people in the class. I pointed this out to her (long story: I did it privately, but after she mentioned something else, blah, blah, blah) in not so many words and she said that she thought that I had been (in the past, during lessons) unprofessional. When I questioned her about how in my private personal life I could be unprofessional, she said, "You're a teacher." I said that I wasn't in this situation. And she said that that didn't matter...

*shrug*

I just don't see it.

[lea724]

That's really obnoxious of her. I'm sorry. :(

[deborahlane]

Eh. I'm not bothered. I just wondered whether it was actually possible.

[faithinthepoor]

I have gotten extraordinarily drunk at work functions and said things to my bosses that I really shouldn't off and yet I have never been accused of being unprofessional. Are you a football player? Do you have some kind of contract that dictates how you should behave off the field????

[deborahlane]

If I were a football player, I would be living somewhere where I could flaunt my wealth!

[donsilvercat]

a certificated teacher is always a teacher...
anything that is immoral or illegal is also unprofessional
Public drunkeness, trying to pick up a minor, stealing and on and on
a teacher is always a teacher just as a policeman is always a policeman
In this state if a teacher observes child abuse anywhere, anytime it is a violation not to report it...for example if you are in a store and a woman hits her child (violently, not just a gentle nudge) then not reporting it is a violation and their teaching permit could be cancelled.
Revealing confidential educational information to a third party like a students grades is a violation etc etc etc...

[deborahlane]

Okay, perhaps I've not been clear:

I am taking a science class in the evening. My teacher said that she thought I was being unprofessional in her class. I wasn't drunk, I wasn't stealing and I wasn't picking up a minor. In what way could any behaviour of mine where I am a student and she is a teacher be considered unprofessional?