Tattooed teachers told to cover up

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) Oct 21st 2008 4:00PM

As a child, I don't recall ever seeing a teacher with a tattoo. This is probably because way back then, tattoos were predominantly found on bikers, military men and rock stars. But over the past decade or so, tattoos have become a lot more mainstream and now it is estimated that 14% of adults in the United States have at least one. And with numbers like that, it is inevitable that you are going to run across some permanently inked school teachers.

But regardless of how mainstream tattooing has become, there are those who still see it as the sign of a rebel and therefore inappropriate for a school teacher. In Joplin, Missouri, the Board of Education has addressed the issue of teachers with tattoos by introducing a new policy that requires all employees to completely cover any tattoos while at work.

Superintendent C.J. Huff says that the new policy came about after someone raised concerns about tattooed teachers. "Until business and industry says that we want to hire people with tattoos, I don't think it's anything out of order," Huff said. "It's how we need to do business."

Area resident, Maurice Filson, is happy with the new policy and says that a teacher who refuses to comply is making a statement that speaks louder than the body art. "You already know the problems our children are facing, so for the sake of our kids, I hope this can be properly addressed," Filson said.

I am not exactly getting the connection between the "problems our children are facing" and a teacher's tattoo, but once the policy goes into effect, potential new-hires will be given the message. Huff says that students at universities from which the district recruits will be encouraged to think before they ink. "This is a trendy thing for people to get tattoos, but we're asking people who are going into the teaching field to ask themselves how big and where they want to put those tattoos," Huff said.

Source

Comments (17)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jan Bay 10-21-2008 @ 5:08PM

I can admire the artwork that goes into a tattoo, but I have to confess I don't like them. I'm not judging anybody; I just don't think they make the body more attractive. On the other hand, I could not care less if people (or their teachers) have them or not so long as the drawings or words aren't vulgar.

If whether or not to have a tattoo is the biggest challenge my girls face in life I would consider them very fortunate. I will tell them that everybody I have known personally that got one said that they regretted it later. Beyond that it's their decision and I sincerely doubt if seeing one on a teacher will make it for them. At least it would not have influenced me. In fact, my generation may have been LESS inclined to wear/do something a teacher had been seen with as we would have considered it "old".

Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/

Dave 10-22-2008 @ 1:27PM

I think a tatoo on the back midriff is so sexy on a women. ust a thought.

Sandyone 10-22-2008 @ 2:36PM

Yeah, see, that's why those tattoos should be covered. No teacher should have her sexy back or midriff showing!

Seems kind of silly to worry about ankle or wrist tattoos. Some things are appropriate to a school setting and some things are not. "Sexy" falls into the latter category!

hall monitor 10-21-2008 @ 8:06PM

I say let the teachers use it for a learning lesson to discourage kids from getting a dumb tattoo that they will most likely regret within five years.

Hall Monitor
http://detentionslip.org

Teacher 10-21-2008 @ 8:21PM

My daughter recently got tattooed (she is only 21 months) for radiation thearapy. When she is older at least one of the tattoos will be visible (it is on her neck). If anyone ever asked her to cover it up I would be pissed. This is stupid.

KurtM 10-21-2008 @ 10:22PM

I am a young professional, and I am also pretty heavily tattooed. I think as long as they are not vulgar, then who cares? It is a personal choice. If there's one thing I hate, it's people who judge at first glance. If someone has an ugly haircut, who cares? You're as cool as you think you are, no matter who you are. People should loosen up a little on this! Live and let live..

cmceneany 10-21-2008 @ 11:59PM

I'm in the teaching profession and I have two tattoos. I come from a long line of teachers in my family. I got my first tat when I was 18, and my second one when I was 24. The first is easy to hide, it's on the shoulder. The second is on my outter ankle. I live in California where it would not be feasible or smart to wear pants in the hot weather.

I don't regret my tats, even though I got my first one almost 20 years ago. In fact, I plan on extending the one on my ankle.

It's disgusting that tats have such a bad stereotype. What a super opportunity to show that someone can have a tattoo, be an educator, and lead a productive life that is free from drugs, and whatever other things those people fear tats may influence.

I'm really shocked to hear of this rule for school teachers in that District. Some of my best teachers had a tattoo or two. They educated me, and I came out just fine. What a twisted conservative uneducated bunch to assume that a teacher with a tattoo would in any way be a harmful influence to their children.

c_rousseau05 10-22-2008 @ 1:00AM

It's a distraction, bottom line. All you teachers know that your kids get distracted over the littlest things and so you can imagine if they saw a tattoo on you they'd be asking a million questions. I know, I was a kid once. We were always finding ways to egg on the teacher, even when the teacher showed up wearing a new gold necklace (man) we'd ask if his girl friend got it for him and such. I mean, it's fun for kids to do this mainly because we just want to poke fun, but also because it's a distraction from getting started on class.

When I was in high school 10 years ago we had to cover up our piercings, if it was a tongue piercing we had to take it out for school if they saw it and if you had a tattoo you had to wear long sleeves or a turtleneck...whatever, a bandaid lol. Just cover it up. If the students had to do it I should see no problem why a teacher shouldn't.

I have no problem with tattoos on the general public but for those of you crying about how tattoos are "harmless" and a type of art and expression and should be seen by all there's something called respect. Out of respect for kids parents, who many not want their kid to get a tattoo or are fighting with their kid about getting one, you need to cover it up. Let your sleeves up after class, it's not a big deal to wait 8 measly hours to show off your skin art. Out of respect for your employer you need to cover it up if they request you to. You don't have to like it, just do it. Just like some people have to wear uniforms, thank your lucky stars that you dont, but there are rules to dressing almost everywhere. If you can't deal with not showing your skin art for 8 measly hours then get a new job. No, that's not an ignorant thing for me to say, in fact, its ignorant to want your way regardless of what your employer or your class's parents desire. Also, just because someone does agree with the covering up of teachers tattoos doesn't mean they are "conservative" and "uneducated"...it plainly means that they don't agree and have their reasons. Although it's pretty ignorant to put a blanket statement on people. 8 hours of not showing skin never killed anyone, deal with it.

Brandy 10-25-2008 @ 11:57AM

Hold on.... So having a tattoo is distracting... what about parents that ignore their children and do drugs and drink around their children or don't support them or bring all kinds of people around them that shouldn't... So the teacher is corrupting the student because of a tattoo on them.. I think it is time we start putting the blame where it needs to be and stop being petty... there are other more important reasons why the youth today are misguided and i don't think that they are scarred for life because their teacher had a tattoo...Get real and realize what the real issues are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

rob nutsis 10-22-2008 @ 2:56PM

i have never read anything that ignorant.well,maybe,if you count mein kampf.tattoos are only as big of a deal as you make them.and YOU are making it a big deal.go hide your head in the sand and remain dumb and ignorant PLEASE.let a teacher beat your kid in missouri but hide your tattoos everyone

c_rousseau05 10-25-2008 @ 6:07PM

Brandy,

I never said anything about teachers corrupting students by having a tattoo...learn to read. Anyway, I see it plainly as a respect issue. Employers have rights to make their employees look and dress a certain way and employees have the right to agree or look for another job. Tattoos, visible, are a distraction in the classroom and people shouldn't think it's a huge deal to have to cover up their body art for 8 hours, that's all I was saying. Show it off after school hours.

Rob Nutsis,

This article says nothing about teachers beating up kids so I don't know where the heck you got all that mess from.

Anya 10-22-2008 @ 1:56AM

If you have time to complain about someone else's tattoo, then you have WAY too much TIME on your hands.

SKL 10-22-2008 @ 8:57AM

I think this is appropriate. There are many parents who are concerned by the attitudes and lifestyles that a displayed tattoo in school suggests. Add this to the various other things in schools that offend teachers, and it increases the likelihood that parents will choose private education or home schooling.

It is also hard to justify dress code rules for kids when teachers can "express" whatever they want. Dress code rules at some level are necessary to maintain order, attention, and respect so that the time spent in school is meaningful to all the children.

If some teachers didn't have enough foresight to put their tattoos where they could be easily covered, that shows poor judgment in my opinion. There aren't that many professional jobs where visible tattoos are acceptable. Teachers, if you want to be treated like professionals, suck it up like the rest of us.

Sandyone 10-22-2008 @ 11:47AM

SKL, where's your tattoo? "Suck it up, like the rest of us". Heh, heh.

:)

SKL 10-22-2008 @ 1:03PM

Sandyone, I don't have a tattoo to cover, but I have to wear heels and pantyhose sometimes thanks to my chosen "professional" status, which is worse if you ask my feet.

Sandyone 10-22-2008 @ 2:26PM

And your back!

In my (former) chosen profession, I wore combat boots...way more comfortable than heels.

Standards, people, standards. Even if they're stupid standards.

Stormynite7 11-04-2008 @ 12:02AM

I am a teacher with three tattoos and I work at a school that does not care if you show your tattoos as long as you don't have piercings. Tattoos are a form of art and they represent who I am as a person. Just because I am a teacher does not mean that I am not a human being. My students love my tattoo and think it is a fun way to express yourself. Never once have they talked about getting a tattoo because I have them. Tattoo's are just like jewelery and it takes away my freedom of speech when they are covered up. I am a role model because I do not drink or use drugs. My teaching is not affected by my tattoos. Children are not distracted by my tattoos because they are egocentric and they are more focused on the cute guy next to them. I love teaching and I love my tattoos. My tattoo on my arm is a cupcake and reminds me that life is sweet!