Tamara Hoover, The Nude Art Teacher
Category : Women Business, Women Gossip, Women Lifestyle
A Texas high school teacher is fighting for her job after her partner posted topless pictures of her on the Internet. The photos show her in the shower, lifting weights, getting dressed, in bed and doing other routine activities. Hoover reportedly called the photos art.
More than 100 photos of Hoover were posted on a friend’s photography Web site, but a few could cost her her job as a art teacher.
Hoover said yesterday the photos are art and she makes no apologies. “I’m an artist and I’m going to participate in the arts,” Hoover said.
The school district said the photos are inappropriate and violate the “higher moral standard” expected of public school teachers. The district wants to revoke her teaching certification. AISD has suspended Hoover and is working toward firing her, but she is fighting for her job and says the pictures are art, not pornography. District officials say teachers are held to a higher standard, and Hoover failed to meet standards of professional conduct.
“My photographs were placed in a place where art was displayed,” Hoover said. “I think what has happened here is that a few images have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion.”
Hoover and fellow art teacher Gayle Andrews had argued for most of the school year over a kiln, according to Andrews’ signed affidavit. After the confrontation on May 15, students told Andrews that they knew how to get Hoover in trouble and told Andrews to look at pictures on a photo-sharing Web site. Andrews said she initially ignored the information but asked a student to show her the site a few days later.
Hoover and photographer Celesta Danger say they never dreamed the photos would put Hoover’s job in jeopardy because they considered them art, not pornography.
“I did not feel it is wrong; I’m not ashamed of the pictures,” Danger said.
And neither is Hoover. “If it’s inappropriate, I don’t see it. I think it’s a tremendous body of very amazing photography,” Hoover said.
The photos came to light last month as a result of a feud over ceramics equipment with another art teacher, sworn affidavits showed. Students who had seen the pictures showed the teacher, who then notified school officials.
Austen Clements, one of Hoover’s students, noted many artists have nude pictures, including Georgia O’Keeffe. “If Georgia O’Keeffe wanted to teach at Austin High, I don’t think they’d say: ‘No, you have nude pictures online,’ ” Clements said.
Generally speaking, I would say that almost all naked coaches should be put in jail. I mean, those whistles hanging around your neck really clash if you don’t have your pants on. But art teachers, traditionally, are supposed to live their lives about half-starkers. This is because life imitates art, and much art is naked. You could make a full-time job out of going around the world putting pants on statues.
Update:
Reported that group of Austin High School students are campaigning to ask the dismissed of their art teacher Tamara Hoover reinstated as they believe Hoover was unfairly fired for nude photos found on the Internet, which they say are artistic, not pornographic.
They also accepting donations on Hoover’s MySpace.com page.
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