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What does 'a teacher' look like?

(82 Posts)
MamaCaz Mon 11-Nov-19 09:29:28

I've been told on several occasions that I "look like a teacher", twice by total strangers on public transport (though one was drunk and the other clearly had learning difficulties.

I don't think it's meant as a compliment, but it always makes me wonder what a teacher supposedly looks like and what bit of me ticks that box!

Have any of you ever been told that you look like you have a particular job/profession?

Ellianne Mon 11-Nov-19 16:35:30

I agree, it's more to do with the manner than the appearance that people guess we were once a teacher. My voice carries far too much and I use my hands to explain a lot.
I was often asked if I were German as a child and when our two blonde haired, blue eyed kids were later with me we were taken for Scandinavians.

Jillybird Mon 11-Nov-19 17:01:24

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

vickymeldrew Mon 11-Nov-19 17:01:25

I’m convinced there is such a thing as “teacher’s handwriting”

CBBL Mon 11-Nov-19 17:32:05

Yes, I have been told that I look like a teacher, too! My teachers wanted me to be a teacher! I did take a two year pre-nursing course because I wanted to teach nursing - but a road accident meant that I had to leave the course after a year. I became a secretary. A prolific reader - I assume it is my use of language, and insistence on correct grammar and punctuation that lead people to think that! That's my excuse, anyway!

Quizzer Mon 11-Nov-19 18:00:18

During a guessing game, players voted that I worked at a checkout. I am not typically geeky, but I was a computer programmer and website designer! Well i did have a keyboard

DoraMarr Mon 11-Nov-19 18:17:24

I was a teacher and I have four children, and a permanent furrow between my brows from frowning. When I was young a man I fancied asked me if I was an actress. When I simpered “what make you think that?” he said it was because I had a loud voice.

Grammaretto Mon 11-Nov-19 18:25:10

I was once mistaken for a particular headteacher who had been on the tele the night before. I must have resembled her but I hadn't seen the programme and didn't know who my doppelganger was. I doubt it was a compliment.

My DH was looking for someone trespassing at the college of Surgeons and was taken for a consultant. It was his tweed jacket, I think, or maybe his beard.

My son was taken for a doctor at the hospital. He was just visiting. I think it was because he'd googled the symptoms and was spouting a lot of latin words.
Neither DS nor DH are doctors.

Newquay Mon 11-Nov-19 18:30:45

Oh Greengran! DH is a retired teacher-likes to be in charge and never says one word when 50 will do. Sometimes I ask for just a yes or no answer which stumps him! Lol!

LadyJus Mon 11-Nov-19 18:35:09

Many years ago I was at a disco - remember them?! I was mildly amused to be approached by a gentleman who asked me if I was a teacher.... hand on hip, I looked him straight in the eye and replied "I can be anyone you want me to be"!!

Camelotclub Mon 11-Nov-19 18:57:05

Not a job or profession but I've twice been taken for a German whilst in a foreign city! Gahhh.

grannyactivist Mon 11-Nov-19 19:09:17

My family say I'm like the Pied Piper; wherever I am, if there are children they gravitate towards me. I like children's company and find it very easy to engage with them, but I stand no nonsense. People often guess that I'm a teacher or a social worker - and yes, I've been both.

Pat123 Mon 11-Nov-19 19:14:45

I have some teacher friends and they are all very bossy and opinionated individuals

lovebeigecardigans1955 Mon 11-Nov-19 19:15:39

I was once told that I looked like a farmer's wife, does that count? I was wearing a khaki coloured parka type coat at the time. Now I'm sure that wasn't a compliment.

Barmeyoldbat Mon 11-Nov-19 19:16:52

Yes I have been asked if I was a teacher by a few and a Social Worker by others. I think its more about being assertive that makes people think that way about me.

Scrappydo Mon 11-Nov-19 19:34:10

My daughter is a teacher & is often mistaken for a pupil. ( she is 29)?

Chardy Mon 11-Nov-19 19:48:04

Why glasses for a teacher?

BlueSapphire Mon 11-Nov-19 21:54:51

I was a teacher too, but have never been asked if I was one, or been told that I looked like one! Perhaps they thought I was too tiny at 5ft nothing!
Mind you I did take over the singing time at the end of DGDs' playgroup once as the regular leader was absent....
And I did notice at our regular hotel in Crete that most of the British women there in the summer holidays were teachers.

People used to think that DH was a police officer. He actually worked for the Foreign Office for most of his working life, and they would say they never would have thought it! Perhaps they were expecting a very posh Civil Servant diplomat type - but he retained his Northern accent all his life. His final job before retirement though was actually the police.

SueDonim Mon 11-Nov-19 22:51:10

My DD is a final year medical student. Last week a man mistook her for a nurse and when she told him she wasn't, suggested she was the receptionist. She was not best-pleased!

She can spot a medical student or a Foundation Years doctor from a mile away, though. grin

ExperiencedNotOld Mon 11-Nov-19 22:55:45

I think Jo Swinson looks and sounds like an infant class teacher.

Ameliarose Tue 12-Nov-19 07:23:48

My mother once told me that even if she didn't know I was a nurse that she'd know because I am so bossy!!

trisher Tue 12-Nov-19 09:34:43

I think she's more of a supply teacher ExperiencedNotOld

Greenfinch Tue 12-Nov-19 09:52:23

When I taught special needs I was told by someone that all the
special needs teachers he knew looked like me : motherly ! Compliment or not ?

Callistemon Tue 12-Nov-19 09:56:58

grin Greenfinch
DD worked in special needs as a supply teacher and she was very young, blonde, slim and, dare I say it, not 'motherly looking' at all.
A yummy mummy?
Take it as a compliment!

eazybee Tue 12-Nov-19 11:27:18

You can recognise a teacher by the basilisk stare and the quiet but deadly voice.

trisher Tue 12-Nov-19 16:51:16

The basilisk stare and the deadly voice are only brought out to deal with serious misdemeanours eazybee. What have you been up to??