Tattoos on teachers?

[FlightlessDuck]

I own business and have never hired a tattooed person and don't plan on it.

Did you ask?

I know of at least 4 people in my office that you would never be able to tell had tattoos unless you saw them in shorts or with their shirts off.

 

[powellrj]

While I don't have a problem with it, what bothers me is that teachers are allowed to have piercing, weird hair colors and tattoos, but the kids aren't. I think as long as you allow the teachers to have all of the above, why is it considered distracting and the kids can't have them.

 

[marcyinPA]

It depends on what the images are, how visible they would be, etc.

I don't tattoos affect the way you teach, obviously, but there a level of professionalism that should be maintained in a professional environment. It would look a little weird to see someone with a Mike Tyson face tattoo in a classroom, or someone with large, intricate tattoos on his or her arms wearing short sleeves.

But the teacher has some large dragon or american flag on his or her back, or a "tramp stamp" or whatever, who cares. It won't be seen.

The problem with the "tramp stamp" is that they are not often easy to hide. The way pants are now-low riders- the teacher bends over a kid's desk, and the kid in back gets a show.

 

[OceanAnnie]

While I don't have a problem with it, what bothers me is that teachers are allowed to have piercing, weird hair colors and tattoos, but the kids aren't. I think as long as you allow the teachers to have all of the above, why is it considered distracting and the kids can't have them.

That is strange.

I'm pretty sure the teachers have the same standards/rules (clothes, hair, etc.) as the kids where we live. I haven't seen any of the above mentioned.

 

[ms.yt]

Yes I did. I didn't think it was appropriate for a swimming instructor to be have tattoos in odd places while instructing young girls. I was thanked and told that there were others who called.

I own business and have never hired a tattooed person and don't plan on it. The people that I deal with and who are paying us the amount of money that we bill out don't want that kind of people around.

Every choice we make has consequences. When you tattoo yourself you are setting yourself up for judgement and the possibility of hurting yourself job wise. Just the way it is, right or wrong.

Would you have also called and complained if the teacher had large, fake ****s that were emphasized in her swimsuit? Somehow I doubt that would have bothered you as much, even though that also has a certain image connotation for many people.

 

[Squirlz]

Most people that I know and deal with are narrow minded as you say.

That goes without saying. Ones socio-economic clime certainly determines their viewpoint. If that's all you've ever been exposed to then that's all you know. I am in a position to report that it's not like that everywhere.

 

[Planogirl]

Would you have also called and complained if the teacher had large, fake ****s that were emphasized in her swimsuit? Somehow I doubt that would have bothered you as much, even though that also has a certain image connotation for many people.

What if they were large and real? This tendency to judge others for their appearance might never end.

I don't know what kind of business that deals with the public would be narrow-minded enough to not allow tattoos of any kind. It sounds like even those that could be hidden or small unassuming tattoos wouldn't be acceptable. (Not that I know how anyone would know about those that are hidden.) I can't imagine why that matters.

I don't have tattoos and neither does my DH. I have only had a few friends that have them. I don't see them as low class or in any way indicating how much money a person makes. Some attitudes are astounding.

 

[leighe]

I was waiting for you to bring the army arguement up.

I don't think that tattoos made her a better instructor or worse instructor, but they did maker look as if she came from a poor background. I wonder why some don't want to better themselves.

So what you are really teaching your child is to judge people based on what they look like?

Nice. The tattooed swimming instructor isn't the one I'd be worried about my kid being around.

 

[goofy!]

To the people defended visible tattoos on professionals: Please answer this honestly.

You have been accused of a crime and are about to go before a jury of your peers. Who do you want arguing for you, the typical clean cut lawyer type or someone with a tribal tattoo snaking up his neck and an ear gauge?

There's a time for personal expression, and several professions where it doesn't matter at all how you look. In many fields, however, the impression you make is essential to your success.

Would you want your 18 year old to limit his or her choices forever by choosing permanent, visible alterations to his or her appearance? I'd absolutely tell mine that I think he should make sure any ink he gets can be hidden and explain the potential ramifications of his choices. Then it's on him.

If the lawyer had a good defense record, I would hire him/her in a heartbeat.

It would be their win/loss record I would look at, not their ink.

 

[DebIreland]

Their body.

As long as they aren't all crazy covered with them and have them on their faces and stuff like some kind of freak show. I wouldn't be happy about a bunch of lip/eybrow/nose piercings either.

Call me old fashioned, but teachers are supposed to represent a stable adult worthy of respect and people who go to those kinds of excesses are generally out of sorts, and it shows. At least to me.

ETA, I'm talking school teachers, not guitar teachers or anything. Teachers in the public school system for K-12.

You're old fashioned, definitely.

Goodness, 6 pages on this? I couldn't care less if my kids' teachers have tattoos unless they have tattoos saying 'I f*%$ing hate kids'.

 

[goofy!]

Yes I did. I didn't think it was appropriate for a swimming instructor to be have tattoos in odd places while instructing young girls. I was thanked and told that there were others who called.

I own business and have never hired a tattooed person and don't plan on it. The people that I deal with and who are paying us the amount of money that we bill out don't want that kind of people around.

Every choice we make has consequences. When you tattoo yourself you are setting yourself up for judgement and the possibility of hurting yourself job wise. Just the way it is, right or wrong.

Really? You polled every one of your customers and know for a fact that "they don't want to deal with people like that?" (why am I imagining a curled lip and disgusted look while poster was typing "people like that"?)

My impression is that there are far less judgmental people of ink than you perceive. It is also my impression that those that judge "people like that" tend to justify their bigotry by convincing themselves that they are in the majority.

You actually called and complained about a swim teacher with a tattoo?

 

[punkin]

I don't like tattoos and I would never get them. I agree with Art about how trashy they look (OK, flame away, but that's my opinion). On the other hand, I really don't care if teachers or lawyers or bus drivers have them, particularly if they are covered and I don't have to look at them.

My stepfather had tattoos from his days in the army and he always regretted them. They were near impossible to hide.

 

[goofy!]

Agree!

I know LOTS of people with tattoos - more power to you! But to me, the decision to get a tattoo is something not to be taken lightly and I believe a lot of young people who do get tattoos do not have enough foresight to truly understand the possible future ramifications of doing so. My DS 9 has mentioned in the past about getting a tattoo of this or that, and I ask him to remember his love for The Wiggles when he was around 4. If he had gotten a Wiggles tattoo them, would he think it was so cool now? Heck no!! Just my way of putting it into perspective for him.

Also, it appears to be more socially acceptable for men teachers to have tattoos as opposed to women teachers (just my observation).

All the young people thinking ink is perfectly acceptable today are the hiring managers of the future. They won't have the closed minded attitude that some of today's older managers have. So, those in college and high school today will face a far different world regarding acceptance of ink than how some of the older people do today. And I am in my 50's, so not a young person hoping for a change. I just see it in the attitudes of the younger people I work with.

For the record, my BIL - who is in his 60's has plenty of ink. He is a veteran, getting his first tat in 'Nam. He has added over the years.

He was gainfully employed in management at a fortune 500 company till his early retirement. None of the customers nor upper management seemed to think he was trailer trash or "people like that".

And his tattoos still look fine.

 

[Planogirl]

You're old fashioned, definitely.

Goodness, 6 pages on this? I couldn't care less if my kids' teachers have tattoos unless they have tattoos saying 'I f*%$ing hate kids'.

That type of tattoo might bother me too.

 

[jaminmd]

Yes I did. I didn't think it was appropriate for a swimming instructor to be have tattoos in odd places while instructing young girls. I was thanked and told that there were others who called.

I own business and have never hired a tattooed person and don't plan on it. The people that I deal with and who are paying us the amount of money that we bill out don't want that kind of people around.

Every choice we make has consequences. When you tattoo yourself you are setting yourself up for judgement and the possibility of hurting yourself job wise. Just the way it is, right or wrong.

Wow. Substitute the bolded word "tattooed" above with gay, black, Mexican, etc. Would you still feel it is acceptable to make gross generalizations like that?

 

[MrsWendy]

I don't have any tattoos and I'm generally not a fan of them. But even when I've seen someone who in my opinion has an ugly tattoo, I've never looked down my nose at them. And I especially have never viewed them as "trailer trash" or one of "that kind of people". I've never felt a need to look down upon others in order to make myself feel superior.

 

[goofy!]

I don't have any tattoos and I'm generally not a fan of them. But even when I've seen someone who in my opinion has an ugly tattoo, I've never looked down my nose at them. And I especially have never viewed them as "trailer trash" or one of "that kind of people". I've never felt a need to look down upon others in order to make myself feel superior.

 

[Pirate Me]

I don't see how a teacher having a tattoo could somehow affect their ability to teach. I would never judge somebody because of their tattoos and don't understand why it makes them look less suitable to teach than anybody else out there.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Did you ask?

I know of at least 4 people in my office that you would never be able to tell had tattoos unless you saw them in shorts or with their shirts off.

Yup. No one would ever know I have a tattoo outside of seeing my in a swimsuit or spaghetti strap or halter top, none of which I'd wear to an interview or to work. I'd bet most people know at least one person that has that "perfect, professional appearance" but also has hidden tattoos or piercings.

If the lawyer had a good defense record, I would hire him/her in a heartbeat.

It would be their win/loss record I would look at, not their ink.

Right? I don't see the correlation between tattoos and job performance, and to me, job performance is what matters.

 

[luvsJack]

To the people defended visible tattoos on professionals: Please answer this honestly.

You have been accused of a crime and are about to go before a jury of your peers. Who do you want arguing for you, the typical clean cut lawyer type or someone with a tribal tattoo snaking up his neck and an ear gauge?

There's a time for personal expression, and several professions where it doesn't matter at all how you look. In many fields, however, the impression you make is essential to your success.

Would you want your 18 year old to limit his or her choices forever by choosing permanent, visible alterations to his or her appearance? I'd absolutely tell mine that I think he should make sure any ink he gets can be hidden and explain the potential ramifications of his choices. Then it's on him.

I would want the lawyer that has the best ability to argue my case. I couldn't care less what he/she looks like.

As for wanting an 18 year old to get a tattoo, both of my sons got them at 18. They paid for them and they were adults, so it really wasn't up to me. But, I didn't have an issue with them.