Teacher who is also member of metal band told to quit band or resign

A trainee teacher who fronts a gory death metal band whose live act features blood-smeared women has been threatened with dismissal by German authorities.

Unless he abandons his controversial music career with the band Debauchery, Thomas "The Bloodbeast" Gurrath will have to give up his teaching traineeship, according to a report in Bild, the German daily.

The 29-year-old Stuttgart-based teacher and his band have released albums with names like "Kill, Maim, Burn" and "Torture Pit".

The band's live shows and promotional materials feature nude women covered in blood and sado-masochistic equipment.

When a supervisor at Mr Gurrath's school discovered the band's website, the official told education authorities.

But Mr Gurrath defended his hobby, saying it merely reflected the violence in the world around him, according to thelocal.de, the English-language German website.

"I would never give up my music just because the education authorities order it," he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/7694472/Death-metal-trainee-teacher-told-to-quit-gory-band-or-resign.html

Given Germany's rich history of young folks following the whims of a charasmatic leader, it's probably in their best interest to be overly cautious about who is instructing today's youth.

Thats his personal life man, they can't carry that over to where he works not to mention that I'm sure the grisly stage stuff is just an act not to be taken serious. Thats stupid.


This is why weed needs to be mandatory..geez. "Here smoke this....you were taking life to seriously for a second there".

Stender wrote:

Thats his personal life man, they can't carry that over to where he works?

Why not? They do it here all the time. Teachers have background investigations, etc. If something looks suspicious they are not hired. A teacher here in my state was fired because of a DWI. That's his personal life, it happened on a weekend when he was off the clock, but he still was fired from his job for something he did in his personal life. (I realize that a DWI and being in a band are not the same thing, but it still makes my point.)

Forget the mans day job! Post a link to the nekkid women!

I can understand why they fired him though. Not that I condone it, but still.

My opinion is a bit lop-sided as I'm married to a former teacher and vice-principal, so I know what kind of uproar and distraction this would cause among both the faculty and parents of the student body. So it's better for them to just get rid of the guy than deal with irate parents on a daily basis.

And really, did the teacher in question really think this was not going to be an issue? Personal life or not, when his "outside" work is readily available for viewing on the internet and elsewhere by parents and students alike, you know someone is going to take issue with it.

Hey there are plenty of other jobs out there. It doesn't sound like he is all that crushed either. He was a trainee not a 10, 20 , 30 year vet at the job, so he isn't losing too too much I think.

His band is called Debauchery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj2FJXg2LnA

official page with pictures: http://www.debauchery.de/

My opinion is a also biased as I taught High School English for 3 years (in America) so it is easier to dismiss one person (especially a trainee or student teacher who is not paid and/or has signed a contract). Also, as a teacher, you are to be a role model whether you want to be or not, and are instructed never to discuss your personal life with students. They are your students, not your friends! I recall teaching in one of Warwick, RI's 3 high schools and there was a girl who was a student teacher that was dismissed from the program after pictures of her in nothing more risque than a bikini made there way to school. She was a fitness model and competitor (and I believe a former Miss New Hampshire Pageant winner) and absolutely beautiful. The pictures were from a competition and a professional photo shoot that someone found online and made copies of and then distributed. I don't know if she was ever reinstated as I left for another district the following semester. Peace.

the sentinel wrote:

Also, as a teacher, you are to be a role model whether you want to be or not

exactly. my wife is a junior high school teacher & is actually contractually required not to become involved with what could reasonably be considered illegal, "scandalous" or inappropriate.

According to the German media this problem started a little bit different.
He had a discussion in class about whether or not playing violent computer games lead to real life violence. He showed his students two research papers from the opposite side. Since he does not play computer games and since this whole thing is disputed he let the students make their own conclusion. However the head of the school became angry/shocked after hearing this. She demanded that it is his duty to condem any violence, be it real or in media. Than she made some research about him and found his background. And than she started screaming around, that he violated human rights ... . Before noone cared.

I don't find this strange at all. You guys are just too big a metal lovers to realize it. What if he was a gansta rapper and rapped about shooting cops?

If he was just playing music, I don't think it would be an issue...but all the things added to the band's image is what's causing the problem...

Rules in Slovenia are also very conservative etc., BUT - here's a picture of INTERCEPTOR frontman - and he is a KINDERGARTEN teacher

mc666 wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

Also, as a teacher, you are to be a role model whether you want to be or not

exactly. my wife is a junior high school teacher & is actually contractually required not to become involved with what could reasonably be considered illegal, "scandalous" or inappropriate.

So she kept her marriage a secret when she was hired?

RiseAndFall wrote:

Hey there are plenty of other jobs out there. It doesn't sound like he is all that crushed either. He was a trainee not a 10, 20 , 30 year vet at the job, so he isn't losing too too much I think.

NORDIQUES, FTW!!!!

Olafsto wrote:

mc666 wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

Also, as a teacher, you are to be a role model whether you want to be or not

exactly. my wife is a junior high school teacher & is actually contractually required not to become involved with what could reasonably be considered illegal, "scandalous" or inappropriate.

So she kept her marriage a secret when she was hired?

pfffftttt

Lari wrote:

I don't find this strange at all. You guys are just too big a metal lovers to realize it. What if he was a gansta rapper and rapped about shooting cops?

I personally would have more or less the same stance, actually.

I know what you mean, though. It wouldn't surprise me if a gangsta rapper who was also a teacher was fired for that reason. There are three genres of music that tend to get abuse from the "Won't somebody please think of the children?" types, and those genres of music are metal, rap, and punk.

Stender wrote:

This is why weed needs to be mandatory..geez. "Here smoke this....you were taking life to seriously for a second there".

You speak the truth. So many people take life way too seriously. Folks need to learn to just chill.