Tattoos on teachers?

[lauran cameron]

I am lovin' all the support for the teachers with ink. Just because someone has permanent artwork on their body does not make them a bad person or incapable of teaching. I mean as long as it is not offensive of course, you must maintain a level of professionalism. I have a tattoo but it is somewhere where you would not see because I don't know what kind of career I will pursue yet.

 

[tasha99]

Tats might look cool when they are fresh, but I have never seen a crisp looking tat on a 60 year old. The little parrot starts to look like a bit of road kill... With that in mind I see a tattoo as a sign that the person doesn't have any foresight, they don't respect their body, they are most likely followers and just not a good role model. And if anyone outside your family is viewed as a role model to young kids it is a teacher they see 6 hours a day... I would have a real problem with some trashy looking teacher for my kids and that is what people look like when they have tattoos.

People get tattoos for different reasons, so your broad brush generalizations would only be true some of the time. Like it or not, tattoos are mainstream now. Perhaps some people with tattoos have the foresight to know that the increased popularity of tattoos will mean decreased removal costs in the future.

 

[maslex]

I have a friend who is a substitute shop teacher at the technical school here. He has tattoos on both of his forearms. They were visible during his interview and are visible during class time as well. Nobody at the school (students OR the administration) has a problem with it, or if they did, they haven't said anything to him yet. He goes in to work, does his job and truth be told.....for being one of the newer teachers (only been there a year or so) he's one of the more respected teachers there. Even more respected than some of the teachers that have been there since MY hubby went there over 20 years ago. The kids just love him.

I think people are so quick to judge others these days. If people would just actually get to know a person before they judge how they look, the world would be so much better. I mean granted, many people can be indimidated by the looks of my friend (he's about 6'3", big, broad and with tattoos all over his forearms) but if you got to know him personally, you'd find out he's actually a very cool guy. He's like a big teddy bear. But it's the judgemental people who take one look at him and others like him and want to throw him under the bus.

I've just never understood judgemental people. I mean whatever you do is your business and whatever I do is my business. It doesn't mean that I am right or that you are right. It also doesn't mean that I am wrong or that you are wrong. What it means is, this is America and that last time I looked, we are a free country and whatever floats your boat is fine by me.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I might worry that it would initially distract the kids. - But kids get used to things fast, so I don't think it would be an ongoing problem. (As long as the subject matter wasn't R-rated, of course.)

P.S. - My 10-year-old DS just got up. He said he hasn't had any teachers with tatoos he could see, that it would seem kind-of "weird" (his word), but he did have a teacher with a nose ring, and the kids got used to it.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I think tattoos look unprofessional. There, I said it. I'm not anti-tattoo, I just think that people should have the foresight to put their tats where they can be covered when appropriate. In their personal lives, expose away.

I work in a fairly conservative law enforcement setting. Everyone looks clean cut until shirts are removed in the gym and you see guys with 20 tattoos up above the short sleeve lines and all over backs and chests. If they had exposed tattoos during their interviews they wouldn't have been hired. Maybe it's fair, maybe it isn't, but it's the way of the profession. You have to look the part.

I think the current trend towards loads of tattoos will die out because they are no longer unusual and (when I was younger at least) the people who chose to get them were the more anti-establishment type. It's no longer rebellious.

As far as tats on teachers, I don't care but I think I'd have to wonder about someone with a scroll crawling up his neck or something. It would be ok I guess for a high school teacher but I wouldn't want my kindergartner influenced by neck art.

 

[Coconut36]

I think tattoos look unprofessional. There, I said it. I'm not anti-tattoo, I just think that people should have the foresight to put their tats where they can be covered when appropriate. In their personal lives, expose away.

I work in a fairly conservative law enforcement setting. Everyone looks clean cut until shirts are removed in the gym and you see guys with 20 tattoos up above the short sleeve lines and all over backs and chests. If they had exposed tattoos during their interviews they wouldn't have been hired. Maybe it's fair, maybe it isn't, but it's the way of the profession. You have to look the part.

I think the current trend towards loads of tattoos will die out because they are no longer unusual and (when I was younger at least) the people who chose to get them were the more anti-establishment type. It's no longer rebellious.

As far as tats on teachers, I don't care but I think I'd have to wonder about someone with a scroll crawling up his neck or something. It would be ok I guess for a high school teacher but I wouldn't want my kindergartner influenced by neck art.

How in the world would a Kinder kid be "influenced" by neck art or any tattoo for that matter? That makes no sense to me..it's also not like they can run right out and get a tattoo for themselves or something because Mr/Mrs Smith has a tattoo and teaches them. Seems like such a silly thing to say about a 5 year old or any age for that matter as in general in most places you can't get a tattoo without parental permission until you are 18 so it really shouldn't matter if someone has body art or not and teaches.

 

[C.Ann]

I don't care what they do with their body but if the tatoos are overwhelming and in conspicuous places, I think it takes away from the professionalism. That is MHO

(Underlining mine..) I agree - although I don't consider it "trashy"..

 

[MIGrandma]

I learned, years ago, not to "judge a book by its cover." My cousin (more like my brother) taught me that. His "looks" might make a person leary of him, but he has a heart of gold and would give the shirt off his back to help someone else out.

It wouldn't bother me a bit if a teacher had tattoos, or piercings, whatever. It's how they do their job that matters. If they are good at teaching their class, that's the important thing. The rest is just cosmetic and doesn't matter to me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think the current trend towards loads of tattoos will die out because they are no longer unusual and (when I was younger at least) the people who chose to get them were the more anti-establishment type. It's no longer rebellious.

I disagree it's a 'current trend'. Tattoo paroles and their clients have been around for years. It's not rebellion, it's merely self-expression.

And the word is tattoo. Double "t" in the middle. If you're (general 'you') going to criticize something, at least spell it right.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Tats might look cool when they are fresh, but I have never seen a crisp looking tat on a 60 year old. The little parrot starts to look like a bit of road kill... With that in mind I see a tattoo as a sign that the person doesn't have any foresight, they don't respect their body, they are most likely followers and just not a good role model. And if anyone outside your family is viewed as a role model to young kids it is a teacher they see 6 hours a day... I would have a real problem with some trashy looking teacher for my kids and that is what people look like when they have tattoos.

Wow...

 

[C.Ann]

In our school district, we aren't allowed to have tattoos showing.

Many employers have this policy - not just schools.. I have never had any desire to have one - but if I did, I would make sure it was in a place that could be easily covered..

 

[MoonFaerie]

It wouldn't bother me a bit if a teacher had tattoos, or piercings, whatever. It's how they do their job that matters. If they are good at teaching their class, that's the important thing. The rest is just cosmetic and doesn't matter to me.

Exactly.

 

[luvmy3]

How about tatoos on parents? How about more tatoos than teeth on parents? How about not picking apart EVERYTHING teachers do? Last time I checked this is still the USA and if a teacher wants to come in looking like Lizard Man but does his/her job it is really not up for discussion.
Frankly, I did not read the whole thread but once again the premise of it is disconcerting.

Teachers in the public schools have a morals clause in their contract but it does NOT include tatoos, piercings or any other body adornment.

Thats not necessarily true, one poster has already said they are not allowed to let their tattoos show.
Personally, it doesn't bother me at all.

 

[topolino]

Tats might look cool when they are fresh, but I have never seen a crisp looking tat on a 60 year old. The little parrot starts to look like a bit of road kill... With that in mind I see a tattoo as a sign that the person doesn't have any foresight, they don't respect their body, they are most likely followers and just not a good role model. And if anyone outside your family is viewed as a role model to young kids it is a teacher they see 6 hours a day... I would have a real problem with some trashy looking teacher for my kids and that is what people look like when they have tattoos.

I am a teacher and I have tattoos (although all but my wrist tattoo are covered when I wear long pants and even a short sleeve shirt). I'm also a male with (gasp) long hair!!! I must be doubly trashy!! Funny, my students don't think so. Neither do my superiors.

While I don't teach elementary or middle schoolers, I would guess that at those ages, kids might even connect and be positively influenced more, by a teacher that they consider "cool".

 

[Nolcrest]

Wouldn't bother me in the least.

 

[Swan4Me]

Then you must not have ever seen a 60 year old with a new tattoo. You know there's no upper age limit on these, right? :

I have seen a 50-ish year old woman with lots of tatooes and she looked horrible. It all turns dark green after several years and it is not a pretty sight.

I still feel Tats are a lower class phenom-no matter how polite and nice you are, if you have "ink" you are regarded by many as , to put it nicely, "trailer trash" and I wouldnt want a teacher with Ink.

 

[happygirl]

To me it would depend what the tattoo is?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I have seen a 50-ish year old woman with lots of tatooes and she looked horrible. It all turns dark green after several years and it is not a pretty sight.

I still feel Tats are a lower class phenom-no matter how polite and nice you are, if you have "ink" you are regarded by many as , to put it nicely, "trailer trash" and I wouldnt want a teacher with Ink.

Again...wow

 

[Christopher Robin]

I disagree it's a 'current trend'. Tattoo paroles and their clients have been around for years. It's not rebellion, it's merely self-expression.

And the word is tattoo. Double "t" in the middle. If you're (general 'you') going to criticize something, at least spell it right.

Bolding mine. Had to point out that it is either 'parolees' assuming you were talking about a tattoo artist that has been released from jail, or 'parlors' assuming that you are talking about the place to get a tattoo. Hope I didn't make a spelling error while pointing out your spelling error. LOL

 

[luvsJack]

I have seen a 50-ish year old woman with lots of tatooes and she looked horrible. It all turns dark green after several years and it is not a pretty sight.

I still feel Tats are a lower class phenom-no matter how polite and nice you are, if you have "ink" you are regarded by many as , to put it nicely, "trailer trash" and I wouldnt want a teacher with Ink.

Do you actually KNOW anyone with a tattoo? You are being very judgmental of something you see on someone. Would you like to be judged that way for the clothes you wear or your hairstyle?

My son and his wife have tattoos and so do many of their friends. They are some of the most creative people I know and several of them would make wonderful teachers (and a couple are in college now to do just that) including ds who has actually been encouraged many times to go into education by former teachers. And they are ALL a long, long way from "trailer trash" (I truly HATE that term as living in a trailer has NOTHING to do with living in a trailer--just another term used by judgmental people who have no clue).

DD had a science teacher last year who has tattoos. He is an excellent science teacher and mentor for these jr. high kids.