Can a teachers private life be private?

The behaviour of teachers has long been of public interest. This was again proven when Music teacher Helen Goddard was sentenced for her relationship with an under age pupil. It's not the first time the press has run such a story, and it no doubt won't be the last though in the scheme of things, it has to be said that incidents such as these are pretty rare. What happens however if the focus shifts to a teachers more general behaviour? Should a teacher maintain a certain level of decorum in their private lives or should a teacher's private life be just that - private?

The General Teaching Council (GTC) will in October be launching its new code of practice for teachers. It is already proving quite controversial, in particular because one part of the code suggests that teachers should ‘Maintain reasonable standards in their own behaviour that enable them to maintain an effective learning environment and also to uphold public trust and confidence in the profession.’ What exactly does this mean? Some critics have suggested that a teacher might not be able to drink or smoke in public for fear of bringing teaching in to disrepute! Will a teacher have to be constantly aware of who is around them in case they are spotted by student or parent? This question is a valid one if critics are correct in suggesting that people will be encouraged to report on "teachers who behave badly"!

I think every reader of this blog would agree that teachers should indeed behave well and have a responsibility to their profession as a public key worker - just as doctors and other key workers are. The question is how far we take this? Should teachers really be expected to maintain higher standards than the rest of us?

The Chief executive of the GTC, Keith Bartley has responded to the critics who say that the new code is too intrusive in to teachers' private lives and has said ‘We are absolutely explicit that the code does not in any way intrude into teachers’ private lives.’ Read the full article here. Here at Classroom we too have a code of conduct for our supply teachers but this refers more to behaviour within the Classroom and on school premises and does not touch on behaviour in public life.

So what do you think? Do pupils see their teachers as role models and therefore should certain levels of behaviour be maintained in public by teachers?