The scrutiny…

Even though teachers many not get the respect (and paychecks) they deserve, society still holds teachers to a different standard than the general public. If you are seriously considering a career in education it is time to start living by that standard.

Step 1: Remove all inappropriate posts from your social media.

  I mean now. No really, look at all your posts. Scroll through every picture you’ve posted and delete anything that is inappropriate. What’s inappropriate might you ask? This is where the line gets fuzzy.

  Ask yourself if it is something you would want both a kindergartener and your potential boss (principal, superintendent) seeing. If not, then delete it. Different school districts in different towns have varying levels of what is appropriate. A picture of you toasting your mom on mother’s day is one thing, a picture of you wasted holding up a red Solo cup is another. A picture of you enjoying the beach in a bikini is one thing, a selfie of your bikini bod focusing on your breasts is another.

  Have you dropped the f-bomb in a post? Might want to delete that. Have you posted anything particularly controversial or political? Might want to delete that too. Use your head about what is appropriate and what’s not. Once you have a job, you may find that you can loosen up a bit—or not.

No really, go do it now. Then come back and finish reading this post.

Step 2: Stop posing inappropriate things to social media.

  Now that you’ve removed the bad stuff that was already there, censor yourself from here on out. Got to urge to retweet a controversial article about transgender bathroom use? Stop! Eager to post that picture from Friday’s rager? Don’t do it! Keep your image on social media clean if you want to be an educator.

Step 3: Go outside your school district for that jumbo margarita.

  Just because you’re a teacher doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. In fact, you deserve that jumbo margarita on the Friday after your first week of teaching (or every week) more than anybody, but if you’re going to go out for more than one drink, and are likely to get a little tipsy, you might consider going to a bar/restaurant outside the district where your students might see you. And once you’re a teacher, never—ever, wear clothing with your school emblem on it in public if you are drinking.

  I hope it is safe to assume that if you want to become a teacher that I need not worry to tell you that drugs, driving while intoxicated, working for any kind of “adult” industry on the side is just not going to fly.

  Like I said earlier, educators are held to a different standard. You need to start living to that standard now and continue to do so throughout your career as a teacher. That doesn’t mean you can’t wear a bikini to the beach, or have a few drinks at the bar, but it does mean that you have to be aware of the decisions you are making in your public life and make reasonable ones. If you’re not ready to handle that, you might want to consider another career.

Photo by: howtostartablogonline.net