How much should the personal life of a teacher matter?

If the teacher, in the classroom, does an excellent job with your child should it matter if you don't necessarily agree with his/her actions outside of the classroom?

As long as the teacher doesn't incorporate questionable personal habits into their teaching for some reason, then I say it doesn't matter one bit. Everyone is entitled to their private lives. Now, if they get busted for child pornography, or something like that, then I would be concerned.

"G"

Oh totally George!

I didn't really mean something criminal....more like having children without being married, partying, etc.

I have mixed feelings on that one. While I do agree to some extent that they are entitled to their personal lives, I still believe that they are role models and have an "image" that must be maintained in the public eye. I wouldn't want my child to be taught by someone that we run into on the weekend at a local public place who is completely drunk and making a scene. They are an example to our children, and what would that be teaching them?

I agree, gabby. Everyone has a right to a personal life. But when that personal life gets you out and drunk in public or doing anything in the public eye that is indecent, you've now made your private life null and void.

Although... there is a case to be made that teachers probably need a good drunk every now and then, more than the rest of us!

"G"