I recall seeing an experiment shown on a news program with 2 different teachers in a young (like 1st grade or so) class. One of the teachers (they were actually both actors) was conventionally very attractive, the other very plain (I always thought "How's that for an acting job: yay, I got the role of ugly teacher.")

The thing is, with kids that young, they were very transparent about their feelings toward the attractive teacher "She's so pretty! She's so nice! I really liked her." It was classic halo effect stuff.