Are our jobs 24/7?

Just read a Wanbao article on the primary school teacher and her sexy bikini shots, and was fuming when a parent who was interviewed said that teachers are on the job 24/7, meaning that they have to be on their most appropriate behavior all the time. And because students are everywhere, teachers cannot do things that tarnish the respectable image of a professional, mature and decent teacher.

What nonsense. We have our lives and we are free to indulge in the vices that we embrace. You cannot guarantee that all teachers abstain from smoke, alcohol, carnal arts, gambling, cussing, lunch-time affairs (I was shocked (and slightly inspired) to read a confession of a teacher on her lunch-time affairs in school in this month's Woman Weekly), sexy wear, indiscriminate littering, maid abuse etc. Of course, as teachers, we are conscious that we are being watched in society and we do feel the pressure to be an 'exemplary role model' in public. But not all the time! (But of course, carnal acts with students is a HUGE no-no, no matter how horny the teacher is).

And why do parents have to slam this stereotypical image on us just because we are in this profession? And when we make mistakes or go against their expectations of us, we have to undergo their criticisms, eat the humble pie and be shamed. Before they look upon us with their holier-than-thou attitudes, they really need to examine their own upbringing of their brood, which for many, is even more inferior than how a zookeeper takes care of an otter.

I think the safest image is to wear long-sleeved tops with pants, accessorized with dorky specs and an equally nerdy husband and kids.