jmc wrote:
So one has to assume that no female teacher should be allowed to go to the beach in a bikini anymore

it always stuns me how it's the PARENTS always trying to hold the rest of the world ot a higher standard...  if teaching can only be done by holy choirs, then shouldn't parents (you know, the source of the child) have to be at least as special ? 

We, the non-parentals, get to issue special non-parent passes for women to go into Victoria's Secret, set up a national daddy-DNA lab for entry into R-rated movies, send any parent who peeks in the door at Christie's Toy Box to the gas chamber, invoke DHS for anyone having a second child (could there BE more proof of a parent having, gosh-oh-golly, SEX), establish a shock-feedback for computers where parents are logging into porn sites, and (my personal favorite) legally and publicly gun down any parent at Walmart whose children are misbehaving. 

Any parents out there ready to live up to those standards ?  I didn't think so.  Then get your whiney righteous asses off the backs of the rest of the human race who are just people, too.

Amanda Padilla wrote:
So teachers cant be models. That kinda RIDICULOUS! there making a big deal out of it I bet because of the students and parents!

I believe this is what the GOP calls "family values."  If you voted for Bush, you voted for this too, so there you go...It's not like the conservatives lied to us or anything -- they've always been quite clear about their desire to dictate how we live our lives [both public and private] for us.  To me, this just sounds like the school system giving people what they assume is expected.

Sky Above wrote:
It must be Utah...or some other horrible hell that doesn't think women should be seen in anything that shows more then their knees or elbows..

Social repression.  Is isn't just for Mormons anymore.

Melvin Moten Jr wrote:

I believe this is what the GOP calls "family values."  If you voted for Bush, you voted for this too, so there you go...

you're right... let's bring back Clinton..  we all know what HE is in favor of !!!

UnoMundo Photography wrote:
Conservative repub crap!

BINGO!

Leprechaun wrote:
you're right... let's bring back Clinton..  we all know what HE is in favor of !!!

Works for me.  It's always comforting to know the President and I have shared interests.

GFP Studios wrote:
The news coverage was showing the usanbt.com site and so now it's gotten so many hits that it's down. If anyone can figure out which model it is let me know. They said her name was Erica something. I'm sure some of us have shot with her. Anyway, now she is subject to ridicule and has her job on the line despite the fact that she has broken no laws or school board regulations. So where is the story?

I feel bad for her. Really I do. If she was posing naked and was a schoolteacher I'd understand a little more. But lingerie and bikinis? Come on.

Danny

Well the simple answer here is people are just idiot, morons, simpltons and a few other things.

Melvin Moten Jr wrote:
Works for me.  It's always comforting to know the President and I have shared interests.

lying to grand juries and hoping like hell your buddies will keep you out of prison ?

Leprechaun wrote:

lying to grand juries and hoping like hell your buddies will keep you out of prison ?

I was going to say that Leprechaun, but I decided to let that sleeping dog lie.

Leprechaun wrote:

lying to grand juries and hoping like hell your buddies will keep you out of prison ?

I belive you're describing Karl Rove and Scooter Libby as well.  Funny how that works out.

At least Clinton likes blowjobs...I don't trust any man who dosen't.

Mark Reese Photography wrote:

I was going to say that Leprechaun, but I decided to let that sleeping dog lie.

You can say whatever you want.  I just wouldn't do it over the phone if I were you.

Corena wrote:

So, teachers can't be attractive. lol

I often wonder whatever happen to Ms. Sonderman my 10th grade English teacher. (know she got remarried..)

Melvin Moten Jr wrote:

You can say whatever you want.  I just wouldn't do it over the phone if I were you.

Hey, I'm not saying that Bush is a Paragon of virtue either. I dont' trust ANY politicians. I keep remembering a line in the movie Hunt for Red October that describes ALL politicians to a "T", It goes something like, "I'm a politician which means I'm a liar and a thief, and if I'm not kissing babies I'm stealing their lollipops."

Mark Reese Photography wrote:
Hey, I'm not saying that Bush is a Paragon of virtue either. I dont' trust ANY politicians. I keep remembering a line in the movie Hunt for Red October that describes ALL politicians to a "T", It goes something like, "I'm a politician which means I'm a liar and a thief, and if I'm not kissing babies I'm stealing their lollipops."

and I was about to ask if this is the time and place to announce my run for Congress against one of the most wacko right wing zellot memebrs of Congress, Rep. Trent Franks here in Arizona...maybe some of my photos would shake things up!  Never mind my liberal views, which most of the state has already read about.

Sirensong wrote:
I am in a relationship with a teacher.
He was told by his headmaster that he was not to hold hands with me or kiss me in public(in the town where he lives)in case one of the children he taught saw him.
He wasnt allowed to go out and get drunk either..for the same reason.
The headmaster didnt want a bad example set.

hungryeye wrote:
Shooting nude images of beautiful girls was why I had to give up the priesthood.
Now I get to sleep in on Sunday, but I really miss the collar.

I have read this thing from beginning to end. As a photographer, someone who has done some modeling, bellydances, AND teaches, let me tell you that dealing with the ethical and morals clause in a teaching contract is a VERY large slippery slope. I have shot all genres including artistic and erotic nudes. I discussed the situation with my principal and this is what he told me. If the students see my work in an exhibit, that is fine, I am just not allowed to show that genre of my photography in my classroom to my students. I have shown other colleagues some of my work, and it has been displayed in public forums. Sometimes open communication is great.

As for the "public image", I do think that sometimes we are held to standards that is unreasonable. It is one of the reasons that I do not go places or clubs that is near where I live or work. I dont even go anywhere that I might be seen by my students. Its also the reason when colleagues meet after school for APWOT (Association for the Psyschological Well-being of Teachers) I have something mixed with soda or iced tea. That way if a student does see us, there isnt an obvious example of alcohol. Besides, my students drink more than I do anyway.

Teachers are held to ridiculous standards, and for literally pennies for the time that is put in. While I dont plan on teaching forever, I keep my artwork out of the views of students.

Chris Macan wrote:
Yeah, and we mocked the ugly ones,
Teacher can't win,

unless of course he/she is the young cool hip one in the school

Thats is me. I am the young cool hip teacher at my school.
If they paid us more maybe we would not have to model or in my case photograph models

Mark Reese Photography wrote:

Hey, I'm not saying that Bush is a Paragon of virtue either. I dont' trust ANY politicians. I keep remembering a line in the movie Hunt for Red October that describes ALL politicians to a "T", It goes something like, "I'm a politician which means I'm a liar and a thief, and if I'm not kissing babies I'm stealing their lollipops."

Let's just say I feel safer with a President who lies about blowjobs than with one who lies about tapping my phone and hacking my email.  Some lies are bigger than others.

Ed Stevenson wrote:
She models under the assumed name of Erica Lee.  Here is a link to the first portfolio page.

http://www.usanbt.com/team.php?category … rent_id=11

What I'm upset about, is that I never had a teacher like that. If I had, I'd have been sitting right in the front row - every day.

Now, I just want to shoot with her.

actually ed, erica lee is not her assumed name. it's her real name. she just left out her last name. the palm beach co. school board did nothing about this because there was no policy in place that would make her being a model illegal or "immoral". miss erica lee was pretty careful NOT to do anything that could be considered questionable. she's probly gonna quit school now, to pursue other more profitable interests. this woman is pretty decent. she's a local kid, school prom queen, A student, local college graduate. the principal @ the school she taught was the principal when she was in high school. everyone vouches for her. it's a simple case of overreaction in this new fundamentalist society we find ourselves in.

Anjel Britt wrote:

They dont care in Germany? Wow! 
(I was Elemantary, ages 3-9 UK, London - not allowed to show midriff, back, no see thru dresses like Lady Diana Spencer's famous snap back in the day-but then she was never a TEACHER)  LOL

Are you referring to at school?  Because I think that is hugely different...  A teacher showing midriff at school is unprofessional, but a teacher showing midriff outside of school is a totally different story, in my opinion.

lightscapes wrote:
The USANBT could not have paid to get even 1/100th the publicity this one incident has provided. The publicity alone will launch Erica's career as a high-demand model and no doubt she'll be making the rounds to all the talk-shows, etc. People can only fantasize what it would be like to have her her as a high-school teacher, so they'll certainly want to meet her.

People are making it sound like they feel sorry for her. No way! Erica's the big winner in all of this. She's already been the #1 most popular video on CNN for 3-4 days running. When she leaves her teaching a couple of weeks from now, the USANBT will have her so booked up with model appearances and she'll travel to all the exotic locales. Next up, front cover of Maxim & Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. She couldn't have scripted the exposure any better. Until last week no one had a clue who she was, but now she's made waves internationally. She's the hottest thing at the USANBT, and single-handedly has propelled it out of its relative obscurity.

That is true, if her life goal is to be a model, or have fame, or fortune.  I am a teacher, and while fame, riches, and fortune would be pretty cool, I'd miss the classroom.  That's what I went to college for, and that is what derives me the most joy on a deeper level.  We can't assume that this is the answer to her prayers.

lightscapes wrote:
What I don't understand is this:

1. Erica "Lee" Chevillar clearly states she posed for these pics back in her college days prior to becoming a teacher. And, because it's been a while she'd forgotten that she'd actually done them.

2. Elsewhere she says these were shot back in January (but no mention of year).

3. A look at all of usanbt's site updates back in 2005 make no mention of Erica Lee. In fact, that site has no record of Erica Lee prior to February, 2006, and the pics themeselves clearly show they were posted in late-February 2006.

So, unless I'm mistaken, these pics were shot earlier this year mid-way through her 1st year as a teacher, contrary to everything she has said. Has anyone else noticed this apparent discrepancy? It's one thing to have done these shots back in the wild & crazy college days, but shooting them mid-way through a school year and hoping your students don't find out is something else, especially when the school is in the same city as the usanbt headquarters.

Even if she did shoot these midway through her first year, I still don't think it should be an issue.  The only things, in my opinion, that she did wrong here were to lie about it, and to believe that she could keep herself hidden from her students.

My students found my sites in February.  It sucks, but my job is not in jeopardy, and the only real problem is that students keep being immature about it... But they were not much less immature before they discovered the sites.

GFP Studios wrote:
Anyway, now she is subject to ridicule and has her job on the line despite the fact that she has broken no laws or school board regulations. So where is the story?

"...now she is subject to ridicule and has her job on the line despite the fact that she has broken no laws or school board regulations."

There is your answer, that SHOULD be the story.

rp_photo wrote:
I'm confused!

I though schools taught that diversity and alternate lifestyles should be embraced, and that everyone deserves to be a winner with high self-esteem.

They should be celebrating the diversity of this muliply-abled teacher!

I want to know what schools you are in. Diversity.. yes. Alternative lifestyles...uummm.. maybe... depending on the lifestyle.

Unfortunately in this country we (as teachers) are held to a standard that no one else is. I work in a public high school here in FL, and students found my pics on aol and my personal area. The ones that did, I politely asked them to have some respect for me and my personal life. They did (which is not the norm). I also had some students see pics of where I was in a bellydance costume, and my peer teacher politely told me I needed to take it down. I didnt, I just locked my myspace profile. I think that sometimes people go way overboard. Teachers are PEOPLE too, and have a RIGHT to have a life outside of school.

We are in a teacher SHORTAGE, and we have enough issues in this state, than to make a big deal over NOTHING.