Story By: Elena Kalioglo, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
Parents at a Russian school have started a campaign to have a teacher sacked because he has long fingernails.
They branded the teacher, who was not named, a transvestite and say he is setting a bad example for the impressionable teenagers he is expected to look after.
The row kicked off when the mother of one of the parents of a child studying at the Lyceum in the Kirovsky district of the port city of Rostov on the Don took to social media to complain about the Russian language and literature teacher.
His name was not revealed, but he reportedly studied at SFU (Southern Federal University) before being appointed as a teacher.
In the posting she asked for advice on “how to fire a teacher” who, in her opinion, has an unconventional sexual orientation.
She said that the male teacher was irresponsible in his manners and his appearance and that his behaviour, by doing his fingernails and also putting powder on his face and darkening his eyebrows, had a negative subconscious impact on the students’ thinking.
She posted the message in the social media group “Rostov Glavny – Rostov-on-Don News”, and added: “He may be a good teacher, but he has far too glamorous an appearance, painted eyelashes, foundation on his face, and nail extensions, is this really a man?
She added: “Everyone has their own choice on how they want to live there personal life, I understand all that, but I consider it unacceptable to bring such a culture into school.”
After the posting was made, students took pictures of the teacher’s manicured hands and uploaded them onto social media.
The posting attracted widespread support. One woman wrote: “Even if he were an outstanding teacher, there is no reason to act like this.”
Another added: “If a person has chosen the path of a transvestite – this is his personal business. But giving an example for teenagers and promoting it is unacceptable. This is the same as taking drugs in their presence.”
It was also alleged that the pupils in his class do not perform well with one person claiming that 17 out of 25 children who studied with him were unable to pass the CDF (All-Russian Examination).
The school leadership did not discuss the impending conflict with the parents of the students.
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