What does 'a teacher' look like?

Forgot to say that I was a teacher AND a mother of four at the same time. Perhaps the lack of sleep contributed to the look!

I have been told I look like a nurse. How wrong they are.

In the 1950s I did a six week's first aid course with St John's Ambulance Brigade. Got my certificate, grey frock and bonny hat. A friend at school thought I was very, very, clever as I would be able to tell the difference between a dead person and someone who had fainted.

I never got my free trip to the cinema, wearing my grey frock and hat, in my first aider capacity. I always refused when asked in case someone fainted or died - I wouldn't have known the difference.

MamaCaz I think there are worse things to be likened to. I got asked if I was a Consultant at the hospital don’t know why I looked a mess at the time, I liked the comparison though lol

When I lived in Dover I spent a lot of my spare time in the local library carrying out genealogical research (I was a volunteer for the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness site). I lost count of the number of times people stopped and asked me questions about where stuff was in the Local Studies area. My daughter said it was my own fault because I usually knew where the item was that they were looking for! One of the paid librarians mentioned to me once that a lady had been in asking for 'that nice lady with the blue glasses that works in Local Studies' and they were baffled as none of the staff wore blue glasses! Now I am retired I would love to work part time in a Library but staff have been cut to the minimum so no opportunity where I live now

I was a teacher. When I went, for the first time ,to the school where I volunteer, they thought I was an Ofsted inspector. I don't know what to make of that !!

It's your shoes ladies
Comfort first and last..

Yes, I was one as well. It takes a long time to resist the urge to tell people things, they maybe didn't want to know. Teachers are information junkies and love imparting it to others. It's not the appearance, it's the manner which gives you away, I think.

I sometimes amend my description to'lecturer' which is what they called us in Further Education. I was teaching much the same things as I would have taught in a comp.

We’re all teachers really aren’t we? I’m still trying to train my OH!

People often ask if I was a teacher. I wasn’t but because I am a good organiser and can happily stand up and address up to 200 people people think I was before retirement.

I have been asked many times if I was French! I found out along the way that I had recent French ancestors so there must be something in my looks.

I was once told I looked like a vegetarian. I am not and I have no idea what a vegetarian looks like!!
Again I dont think it was a compliment

I was a Deputy Headteacher in a primary school until I retired 2 years ago. I don't think there is an actual teacher 'look' as no two of my colleagues were ever similar in appearance at any of the schools I worked in. The stereotype sensibly shod/glasses on end of nose/ hair in a bun image of female teachers only exists in fiction, in my experience, but it is how many teachers are still thought of!

I’m often mistaken for a teacher-I think it’s just my naturally -bossy-organising manner

DP and I used to get asked regularly at parents evenings if we were teachers by the teachers themselves (both of us worked in public authority jobs). One of the reasons was that we ‘did’ things with our children which made me wonder if one of them had been moaning about being made to go walking at the weekend and on holiday. I was also mistaken for a school inspector who’d come to check on a trainee teacher who was struggling. I quickly stopped the headteacher once I realised where he was going and explained I was just there to look over the school as I was thinking of sending my son there. I did have my work clothes on which may have confused him. He was mortified but I did wonder who was going to ‘get it’ for not clarifying which visitor was sitting in his office.

I was once approached by someone thinking I was an estate agent. Not sure why.

I am a retired nurse who has been told several times that I look like a matron, but only when my hair is tied back and with my specs on.

No, it may well not have been a compliment! Speaking as a retired teacher, we are often supposed to be bossy, slightly priggish, fussy, have little or no fashion sense and wear glasses.

I have never met a teacher who looked like the description I have just quoted. Some people apply it to librarians as well, where in my experience it is just as out of place.

Next time someone asks if you are a teacher, ask them why they thought so. It would be quite nice to hear the reasons.

I was a teacher, and people often guessed, but I think it was how I spoke and ' behaved ' that was the giveaway, not what I wore.

Ex teachers are often to be found running the U3A and other such organisations.

I'm not sure if it's a certain look or perhaps a tendency to organise people.
Many of my friends and acquaintances were teachers!

I was once told I looked like a sexy secretary - he then went on to ask if I would take my specs off with a flourish whilst unclipping and flicking my long hair!!
Kinky devil.

it's your shoes ladies

One HT I know manages to walk around all day in very high heels which I've never managed.

Haggard, most of the time. I look like hell during term time and then gradually regain 'me' in the holidays.

I was walking through a busy hospital concourse on my first day in my first professional post wearing a beautiful new calf length summer dress with buttons down the back like one my mum had. I felt on top of the world! Someone came up to me and asked me if I was a Social Worker!! I was..... No briefcase or diary under my arm. No idea what gave me way..on my first day too... Years later I stopped outside my sister's house intending to pop in for a wee lunch break when someone came up and asked the same question. My husband said the half decent car, second hand clothes and diary in hand gave me away that time!

Marydoll. I totally agree. I have several friends who are retired teachers. Being a quiet type, myself, I'm lucky to be able to put in even a penn'orth, never mind my twopenn'orth!