Judging a Book by it's Cover

I was at a week long assignment.  The teacher was actually transitioning to another position.  Of course the work was already provided and I was given a headsup that a new teacher had been hired and she would be starting soon.  As the students were being informed, they were already having pre conceived notions about this person.  They were asking how did she look, whether she was old or young, and how did she dress.  All of this, I thought were irrelevant to her teaching the material.  Then the students went so far to say that they didn't like her.  That was pretty surprising to me, being that they didn't even know this woman.  When they were told what school she came from, there were negative comments as well, about her going to be mean to them and give them too much work.  A comment be a student was made that they have a passing grade and they didn't want another teacher because they had the feeling that they were going to fail.  It's just a shame how what you wear and how you look depends on if the students are going to give you their undivided attention.  I feel like I'm back in Corporate America.  The only difference is, its' Corporate Education where the students are the hiring managers and they determine whether or not you climb that corporate ladder. Simply Ridiculous!!