To get a tattoo that's very visible as a teacher?

[LifeLong13]

I've been teaching for over a decade. I have several tattoos and only one is visible and it's on my foot.

I'm debating a tattoo of a lotus flower on my lower arm.

As a parent how would you feel if your child's teacher was tattooed? If you employ teachers how would you feel?

I wouldn't care. I find UK quite old fasioned when it comes to schools with uniforms, dress codes and teachers being called by surnames. It doesn't affect your teaching so carry on!

I have worked with a Headteacher who didn't want any tattoos on show and I now work with a Headteacher who is fine with tattoos on show as long as they are not offensive - pictures, writing etc.
It doesn't change the way you teach and it shows the children another aspect of life.

If its a horrible tattoo, hard to take that person seriously
beauty is usually something quite personal.

Just out of interest I've asked 12yo DS whether he thinks any different of teachers with tattoos - he looked at me as if I'd lost the plot!

We then had a discussion about what, if anything, would make him think a teacher might be "any less of a teacher" IYSWIM. He clearly showed that appearance didn't really matter (although if a teacher with a mohawk walked in it might make him look a bit like this ->). The one thing that would make a difference, he said, would be if a teacher walked into a room and was clearly quiet, nervous, unsure and visibly scared (he did an impression of what he meant).

Tattoos are mainstream enough for children not to bat an eyelid. Parents reactions may vary though.

One of the health visitors at our local clinic has tattoos and a facial piercing. And is very popular and well liked.

When i was at uni, i often chuckled at two lecturers - one dressed like he was bin-diving, another chewed his shirt collar. They were good lecturers though.

I wouldn't care, having an inoffensive tattoo on your arm doesn't hinder your ability to teach.
Do it OP, life is too short

Couldn't care less about your tattoos, piercing, hair colour or cut. I'd be bothered if you were a rude/inconsiderate teacher, or a bad teacher.
I am not narrow minded enough to base my opinions on the way people look - it seldom has any e bearing on their abilities and skills.

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest but then I am heavily tattooed. I'm also a senior manager in a national company who is customer facing and my bosses couldn't care less how many tattoos I have because I'm good at my job. I'm also not expected to cover them in work.

I don't understand the need for tattoos.
When you meet someone you normally look at their eyes. Tattoos are a big distraction, I want to stare at the tattoos to see what the person has decided to cover their skin with. But staring is rude so I end up averting my eyes rather than cause offence.
An odd hairstyle/ bright red lipstick can also distract but a quick glance is enough to absorb however intricate or written tattoos need close study.

I hate, loathe and detest tattoos of any kind. I don't think I particularly judge those who have them, but I just don't understand why you would want to desecrate your beautiful natural skin by dyeing it or, worse, having something that looks like you've scribbled on yourself with a biro.

But that aside, I just find myself wondering what people will do if, sooner or later, the current trend dies out and they're stuck with a hugely obvious and visible sleeve (for instance) that will never be able to be got rid of? Surely they're too hard to hide effectively, if you wanted to. And what about the colours fading? Or, how can you tell if you've come out in a rash, or become sunburnt?

I wouldn't care so long as the teacher was a good teacher. However, I feel really sorry for people with tattoos of dolphins/Chinese characters/tribal patterns etc.as they're so generic and, unfortunately, do suggest a lack of imagination or willingness to follow the crowd that I'd prefer not to see in someone teaching young people.

clam - see I see it as decorating my skin! My wrist tattoo is very small and not noticed by people, the rest are all not visible when I'm dressed. Honestly? The wrist tattoo is there so I don't self harm. And it's worked amazingly well

Provided you treat my children with dignity and respect and teach them I would think that it's your business and I would absolutely support your choice to have a tattoo however visible.

I agree clam - I cannot grasp why people would willingly disfigure themselves with tattoos.

OK, well the wrist one aside (), you say that the rest are hidden by clothes. But isn't it limiting your choices about what you can wear at certain points? So, say, if you (or maybe not you specifically, but "someone") was going to a posh event and didn't want them showing but the outfit was sleeveless, or whatever? Or you get very hot in a heatwave but can't take your jacket off?

My tattoos are for no one except me and in the case of one, my kids.

I have a tramp stamp which has been there twenty years, still looks like it did when I first had it done. Was generic and straight off the wall, the design is ok but mostly I love it because it reminds me of a time when I left an abusive relationship and enjoyed some freedom and independence and fun for the first time in a long time.

I have another design which is visible and is for my kids, a physical connection to them because they're adopted and I don't have the same physical connection that a biological parent would have. They love it.

I have another design which is partly visible and represents something which is very important to me and influences the way I live on a daily basis.

I don't care if anyone is distracted by them, thinks I've desecrated my skin or thinks I'm common, daft, unthinking, sad, following the crowd or whatever else we have been accused of on this thread. My skin, my life, my career and nothing to do with anyone else.

Hasn't held me back in any way shape or form and many of my seniors (very senior roles in HE) have tattoos.

clam - I guess it's personal choice in where you actually have them? I can't wear backless dresses or halter necks due to boobs but I can wear say a strappy vest top and skirt and still none are visible at all. I deliberately picked the tattoo placement so I'm not having to hide them if I want to
Not sure if that makes any sense
Basically I look completely not tattooed until I put a bikini on and then everyone goes

Realistically we could probably all work just as well in our dressing gowns!

Now yer talking!!
Or a nice onesie, in the weeks leading up to Christmas faaaab.

clam there are issues with people not recognising they have gained a suspect mole amongst heavily decorated skin. It's much more difficult to distinguish.

You are right in saying you might not notice a rash (precursor to an allergic reaction).

Clam thats bollix,some people will regret their tattoo.But usually people with sleeves,hands and necks tattooed.Do it because they love it and consider it art.

As said before teacher or doctor with tattoos wouldnt bother me.Arrogant, judgemental people are another story

I just find myself wondering what people will do if, sooner or later, the current trend dies out and they're stuck with a hugely obvious and visible sleeve (for instance) that will never be able to be got rid of?

I wonder that too. Tattoo sleeves have become so mainstream that it's inevitable a lot of people will end up regretting them. Just as a lot of people will love their sleeve forever. But I suppose they'll just have to live with them. I can't even imagine how many tens of thousands of pounds it would cost to have your entire arm lasered.

I hate tattoos. Seems like everyone has them now so i just think they look like you've followed the herd. I wouldn't be hugely impressed. Sorry.

I wouldn't be bothered

A few teachers at ds school have tattoos

I neither know nor care if any of the teachers at my kids' school are tattooed.
Nor would I (other than a generic "ooh! good for them!) if one of them had rainbow hair or mohawk...

other than sheer curiosity about why that design and what it means to them, I mean.