Ex-teacher ‘fired’ for posing in swimsuit slams idea of social media rules for educators

Plans to introduce rules for behavior on social media could lead to “censorship,” but won’t cover all controversial situations, according to a former teacher, who was reportedly sacked for a photo in a sports swimsuit.

“Maybe it doesn’t really make sense. It looks like imposing censorship,” Tatyana Kuvshinnikova told Russian media, pointing out that photos could be interpreted depending on context, “if it is with a lake or forest in the background or with alcoholic beverages.”

“How you can specify all this?” she wondered, commenting on reports that the Russian Ministry of Education along with the Teachers’ Union plan to introduce rules for social media behavior for educators.

According to Education Minister Olga Vasilieva, the rules would be aimed at helping teachers form a “professional image” online. The initiative comes amid numerous recent stories about teachers losing their jobs because of social media postings, which parents or school authorities found inappropriate.

Kuvshinnikova, who used to teach Russian language and literature in the city of Barnaul in southern Siberia, was reportedly fired after a parent complained about photos of her in a sports swimsuit and in a short evening gown, which were taken after an ice swimming competition.

According to Kuvshinnikova, she was bullied by the school authorities and was forced to resign.

After the story made headlines, Russian educators, both female and male, launched a flash mob posting their photos in swimsuits, underwear and sportswear under the hashtag #teachersarehumanstoo, to defy the hardline approach.

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