Tattoos on teachers?

[carrie1626]

In 1974, I had a History teacher who had long hair, round wire-rimmed glasses(think John denver) who drove a Volkswagon van.

He showed a slide show of his cross-country trip from the summer before.
We all loved him. Going to class was great.

Tattoos aren't a problem for me.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I am a second grade teacher and I have 4 tattoos. None of them are visible except a Mickey head on my foot, which my students LOVE!

When I was doing my student teaching, it was a RULE from my college that we were, under no circumstances, allowed to have any visible tattoos. I was fine with that. Once I was in my current position for a while, I felt comfortable enough getting the one on my foot. I teach in a great town in New Jersey and, off the top of my head, there are at least 4 other girls I teach with who also have visible tattoos.

 

[JessicaR]

I think it is insane to judge a persons character based on whether they have tattoos or not.

 

[december]

But you do have to be cautious of where you live and plan to work. I am a public school teacher and started back to work Wed. We went over the employee handbook first thing, as usual, and the no visible tattoo rule is still there. I plan to get one on my shoulder as a reward when I lose 11 more lbs (lost from 171 to 139 this year, 128 is the goal) but it has to be in a spot that is easy to cover. Many of my coworkers have wrist and ankle tattoos, but have to wear bandaids on their ankles if they wear dresses or capris, and large bracelets on their wrists. Don't want that to deal with!

 

[december]

All 3 public school districts I've worked in have had a rule against visible tattoos for all employees. Also, no piercings for men and only in the ear for women. Many of my coworkers have tattoos, they just wear large bandaids on their ankles, and the teacher across the hall wears a big bracelet over her wrist every day. She has at least 3 that I've seen (ankle, wrist, and back-saw it this summer when we were working in our rooms before school started). She is head of the department, very dedicated, and my son's teacher this year. The teacher next door to me has her dead baby's name on her ankle, but keeps it covered with a bandaid.

I don't have any desire to have a tattoo, but will not pass judgment on those that do. I'm teaching middle school now, but taught high school for 14 yrs. I always advised my students to get them in places that could be easily covered up. Putting a bandaid on every day seems like a pain! And as posters on this thread have shown, they will be judged.

Hate the trailer trash term, too. I've lived in trailers, my sister lives in a beautiful huge double wide, and that is probably what I'll purchase when I move from my current location. I've been looking online at some over the past few months. Old stereotypes just need to die

Just found my original post. I now live in a double wide, and I'm planning my own tattoo....... I want Cathrynrose's trail of Mickey's on my shoulder......(but just 4, one for me and each of my 3 kids).

 

[CathrynRose]

Just found my original post. I now live in a double wide, and I'm planning my own tattoo....... I want Cathrynrose's trail of Mickey's on my shoulder......(but just 4, one for me and each of my 3 kids).

 

[ChrisFL]

I think it is insane to judge a persons character based on whether they have tattoos or not.

I disagree with the assessment of that photo.

People get tattoos and wear short sleeves because they WANT people to look at them in a certain way. I think if they expect everyone to like them for their fully tattoo'd arms, they must have been living in a cave.

It is human nature that ANY time we are exposed to a new person, we will judge them based upon appearance first and personality later, its just how it is.

If I'm hiring someone and he comes in looking like that (shirt and jeans included) then I will think twice about the kind of person they are, which gives them a much more difficult time to prove to me that they are an upstanding professional.

But I know that these days I'm in the minority. I don't have any tattoos, never considered getting one and don't see any reason ever to have one.

People change jobs, cars, houses, furniture, even spouses, but somehow they expect they want the same tattoos forever?

Anyway, to me its the same way with putting a bumper sticker on my car, it lets people give a certain opinion about you before they even get a chance to know you, right or wrong.

 

[badblackpug]

This is certainly a zombie thread, but I will chime in. The reason my job has a "no visible tattoos" policy is that it is impossible to dictate what is "tasteful." What is tasteful to one person is offensive to another. If you allow one person to display their tattoos as self expression, you have to allow everyone, whether you agree with their message or not.

True story. Before our "no visible tattoos" policy we had an employee that had "88" tattooed on his arm. (for those of you that already know what it means, now you see) No one ever thought anything of it. Maybe it was a year that had special meaning to him, no one payed any attention.

I don't know whether we are all naive or lived under a rock, but we had no idea that it meant what it does. We had a new employee who had a law enforcement background. She said she was shocked that he was allowed to display that, and went on to explain it's meaning. Apparently "88" is a white supremacy tattoo. "H" is the 8th letter of the alphabet. "HH" or "88" stands for Heil Hitler. Repulsive.

When he was confronted about it, he admitted it. Needless to say, he didn't last very long after that. ... and our "no visible tattoos" policy was born.

 

[Fire14]

This is certainly a zombie thread, but I will chime in. The reason my job has a "no visible tattoos" policy is that it is impossible to dictate what is "tasteful." What is tasteful to one person is offensive to another. If you allow one person to display their tattoos as self expression, you have to allow everyone, whether you agree with their message or not.

True story. Before our "no visible tattoos" policy we had an employee that had "88" tattooed on his arm. (for those of you that already know what it means, now you see) No one ever thought anything of it. Maybe it was a year that had special meaning to him, no one payed any attention.

I don't know whether we are all naive or lived under a rock, but we had no idea that it meant what it does. We had a new employee who had a law enforcement background. She said she was shocked that he was allowed to display that, and went on to explain it's meaning. Apparently "88" is a white supremacy tattoo. "H" is the 8th letter of the alphabet. "HH" or "88" stands for Heil Hitler. Repulsive.

When he was confronted about it, he admitted it. Needless to say, he didn't last very long after that. ... and our "no visible tattoos" policy was born.

Now I personally would have taken it to mean he liked a certain nascar driver lol.

 

[Fire14]

I know in high school and college I had a few teachers who I'd say were rather free sprits and I wouldn't be surprised to find out they had tats. One teacher was the shop teacher who also teaches alternative ed classes aka for the drop out wanna be, suspended more than not types, I personally thought he was a very nice teacher who didn't take crap from anyone.
The other HS teacher was head of art dept. and reminded me of a hippie from 1960's. sandals with socks, lil wire frame glasses, longer hair, the over shoulder/cross body bag. I didn't care for him but I hated Art class too, his brother happened to be my English teacher and they were very differant in dress and personality.

Another Teacher/professer who stuck out to me was the night class Social Ec teacher I had in College. Reminded me of Jerry Garcia type, had the shoulder length hair, the sandals with socks, gurtar, I would not have been shocked to see him walking barefoot.
The way they dressed/ hair style shocked me on first meeting but never bothered me beyond that first day and for most part they were most laid back, easy going teachers but they were respected.

 

[JessicaR]

I disagree with the assessment of that photo.

People get tattoos and wear short sleeves because they WANT people to look at them in a certain way. I think if they expect everyone to like them for their fully tattoo'd arms, they must have been living in a cave.

It is human nature that ANY time we are exposed to a new person, we will judge them based upon appearance first and personality later, its just how it is.

If I'm hiring someone and he comes in looking like that (shirt and jeans included) then I will think twice about the kind of person they are, which gives them a much more difficult time to prove to me that they are an upstanding professional.

But I know that these days I'm in the minority. I don't have any tattoos, never considered getting one and don't see any reason ever to have one.

People change jobs, cars, houses, furniture, even spouses, but somehow they expect they want the same tattoos forever?

Anyway, to me its the same way with putting a bumper sticker on my car, it lets people give a certain opinion about you before they even get a chance to know you, right or wrong.

I have an extremely different outlook.

"People get tattoos and wear short sleeves because they WANT people to look at them in a certain way."

I don't have any tattoos but I know so many people that do. Lately more and more people are getting tattoos. I think the stigma they once portrayed has drastically changed. I get the impression that people get tattoos for THEM not so that people will look at them and form opinions of their character.

As far as it being human nature to judge based on a first appearance -

You would have to agree that your assessment would be incorrect more times than not. An effort to control that impulse would benefit all of us. I try not to judge others and if I find myself doing that I quickly remember they are doing the same when they look at me.

 

[Bob NC]

I think it is insane to judge a persons character based on whether they have tattoos or not.

I think you have it all wrong.

Nobody judges people by whether or not they have tattoos.

They only judge if they can see them.

My belief is that if you are going to put ink on your body and put it on display, you ARE wanting to be judged by it.

 

[blana]

This is certainly a zombie thread, but I will chime in. The reason my job has a "no visible tattoos" policy is that it is impossible to dictate what is "tasteful." What is tasteful to one person is offensive to another. If you allow one person to display their tattoos as self expression, you have to allow everyone, whether you agree with their message or not.

True story. Before our "no visible tattoos" policy we had an employee that had "88" tattooed on his arm. (for those of you that already know what it means, now you see) No one ever thought anything of it. Maybe it was a year that had special meaning to him, no one payed any attention.

I don't know whether we are all naive or lived under a rock, but we had no idea that it meant what it does. We had a new employee who had a law enforcement background. She said she was shocked that he was allowed to display that, and went on to explain it's meaning. Apparently "88" is a white supremacy tattoo. "H" is the 8th letter of the alphabet. "HH" or "88" stands for Heil Hitler. Repulsive.

When he was confronted about it, he admitted it. Needless to say, he didn't last very long after that. ... and our "no visible tattoos" policy was born.

*laughs* I'm with fire, I thought it was because he was a Dale Jr. fan....

 

[usd2bmd]

I think you have it all wrong.

Nobody judges people by whether or not they have tattoos.

They only judge if they can see them.

My belief is that if you are going to put ink on your body and put it on display, you ARE wanting to be judged by it.

Sorry but I have to disagree. My tattoos are not so people can judge me. They mean something to me. Saying that we do it because we want to judged by others is overstating others importance and influence in our lives. .

 

[JessicaR]

I think you have it all wrong.

Nobody judges people by whether or not they have tattoos.

They only judge if they can see them.

My belief is that if you are going to put ink on your body and put it on display, you ARE wanting to be judged by it.

OK - that isn't my belief. You are entitled to yours, but that does not make mine all wrong.

 

[Bob NC]

Sorry but I have to disagree. My tattoos are not so people can judge me. They mean something to me.

Totally understand that.

Most of the tattoos I see, though, are on lower backs and the backs of peoples shoulders. I always wonder why some would put a deeply personal piece of art that only means anything to them in the spots where they can't even see it.

 

[turkeymama]

Totally understand that.

Most of the tattoos I see, though, are on lower backs and the backs of peoples shoulders. I always wonder why some would put a deeply personal piece of art that only means anything to them in the spots where they can't even see it.

Why not? It isn't like we are sitting around all day looking at our tattoos and not being productive. Mine are on my back because I didn't want them on my arms and legs. My back was the next logical place. And my are very meaningful to me and my children. They know the artwork is to honor them.

 

[ChrisFL]

I have an extremely different outlook.

"People get tattoos and wear short sleeves because they WANT people to look at them in a certain way."

I don't have any tattoos but I know so many people that do. Lately more and more people are getting tattoos. I think the stigma they once portrayed has drastically changed. I get the impression that people get tattoos for THEM not so that people will look at them and form opinions of their character.

As far as it being human nature to judge based on a first appearance -

You would have to agree that your assessment would be incorrect more times than not. An effort to control that impulse would benefit all of us. I try not to judge others and if I find myself doing that I quickly remember they are doing the same when they look at me.

I don't HAVE to agree that at all! Yes, it IS human nature to form an early opinion based on the way someone looks.

If you see someone with torn, old clothes, smells like alcohol and has a beard that seems to be unshaven in months, your impression isn't going to be that he's a successful CEO of a company, right?

I don't care who you are, your first impression is going to be along the lines of homeless, unfortunate, etc.

what's the saying "you never get a second chance to make a first impression"?

 

[ChrisFL]

Totally understand that.

Most of the tattoos I see, though, are on lower backs and the backs of peoples shoulders. I always wonder why some would put a deeply personal piece of art that only means anything to them in the spots where they can't even see it.

Agreed, it doesn't make sense to me either.

I'm going to have someone replicate a Picasso painting on the trunklid of my car and I'm going to drive around, not because I want other people to see it, even though its clearly visible to everyone around, but because I like Picasso on my trunk.

 

[bdoyledimou]

I was at my nephews 3rd birthday party a few years back, and at the time had short bleach blonde hair with ice blue tips and yes visible tattoos on my forearms, legs and back.



One of the other women at the party turned to my mother and said "Your son is so handsome it's a shame he didn't do anything with his life" to which my mom replied " he's a highly respected executive at "my company" managing a $500 million account for "my customer".

The ladies response wax " well he could be the CEO if he didn't have blue hair" :lol:

I think people are just jealous that they don't have the opportunity to express themselves.