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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

366 replies

LifeLong13 · 08/10/2016 23:35

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?

OP posts:
Kr1stina · 10/10/2016 13:25

Getting a visible tattoo is a statement . Unlike dying your hair a bright colour , having an obviously fake tan or nails, it's a permanent statement .

You need to understand that not everyone will like the statement you are making. They will have views and thoughts of their own, even if they choose not to share these with you or let them influence how they act towards you.

It's like getting enormous obviously fake breasts then complaining that people notice them or have pre conceived views about what kind of person you want to be . Your chose to do this to your body In order to make a statement ( I want to conform to The tabloid view of what a sexy woman is).

I assume that people who get large visible tattoos are making a statement about wanting to fit in to a particular subculture or to show how cool and alternative they are.

You are entitled to make your statement. Others are entitled to have their views . I don't know why the OP feels this is unreasonable . Freedom works both ways .

clam · 10/10/2016 13:37

arrogant and judgmental people are another story.

And of course, people with tattoos can tick all those boxes.

MuseumOfCurry · 10/10/2016 13:38

I view tattoos as eternal monuments to bad judgement, so I wouldn't love it. That said, I accept that a lot of 'free spirits' who connect well with children seem to like them.

BowieFan · 10/10/2016 14:50

MuseumOfCurry

I'll tell DP that his tattoo was a monument to bad judgment then. Presumably the IED that blew up and filled his arm with shrapnel, causing him to have surgery and huge scars, leaving him to get a tattoo to cover them up, was all just 'bad judgement' then? Get real.

BowieFan · 10/10/2016 15:04

Larrygrylls

The same way I can enforce the rule that girls aren't allowed to wear stilletos or high heels at school, but I am.

The rule is "you are a student and represent our school, so you have to abide by these rules" - I am not a student. I am an adult who is free to make their own decisions. If a student questions me on this, I'll say "when I was at school, I abided by the rules. Now I am an adult and I don't have to."

Kids need to understand they are not adults. I am not a fan of the "lead by example" policy because it's fucking moronic.

clam · 10/10/2016 15:16

BowieFan, This is a genuine question, but bearing in mind the pain, discomfort and numbness associated with such injuries and the subsequent scarring, didn't it hurt hugely to have tattoos done on the site? I understand his reasoning, of course, but I'm wincing even imagining it. (I have scarring too, following major surgery and even 4 years on, can't let bear anyone touching it).

hoolahoola · 10/10/2016 15:19

As long as it wasn't an offensive tattoo (nudity, hate speech, etc) I wouldn't mind at all. I don't understand why anyone would mind. A lotus flower sounds beautiful.

BowieFan · 10/10/2016 15:40

clam

Yes, it did hurt him but he said he couldn't bear looking at the scars all the time and he was very self-conscious about wearing short sleeves. Now he feels a lot more confident about it and doesn't mind showing his arms. He doesn't regret the tattoos, they've given him the confidence he needed after such an awful accident.

It might be different depending on where the actual scar tissue is, I know when I had an op done on my kidney the scar was much more painful (and still is) than the one I had done on my hand to repair the tendons.

dustarr73 · 10/10/2016 15:40

And of course, people with tattoos can tick all those boxes.

But the difference is i wouldnt judge you for not having a tattoo.So you can give tattooed people the same courtesy.

clam · 10/10/2016 15:44

But the difference is i wouldnt judge you for not having a tattoo.

I've seen that argument wheeled out on here before. It doesn't hold water.

dustarr73 · 10/10/2016 15:53

I dont care Clam its true in my case.

brownowl23 · 10/10/2016 17:43

me schools will insist that visible tattoos are covered. I know mine does.

Billben · 10/10/2016 17:50

Late to the party, but as a parent I wouldn't like it. I fully support schools where you have to have them covered up.

pollymere · 10/10/2016 18:00

Some schools will request it's covered up at all times. If you're fine with that, go ahead.

Purplealienpuke · 10/10/2016 18:10

Tattoos don't affect you're ability to teach imo. As a gp it wouldn't bother me at all if dgd had a teacher with tats. It's 2016 fgs. You may have to consider your employer or future employers though

acasualobserver · 10/10/2016 18:19

the IED that blew up and filled his arm with shrapnel

I thought your partner was an RAF fighter pilot?

BowieFan · 10/10/2016 18:28

He's an RAF pilot, he flies helicopters. The fighter jets was an autocorrect thing.

The IED happened when he was off duty and going into the local town with some others from different regiments. Their truck ran over an IED but thankfully it hadn't been set up right and didn't explode as badly as it could have done, it only threw some dust up in the air and a bit of shrapnel from the truck, which injured DP.

ny20005 · 10/10/2016 18:38

Police are allowed to have them on show now & my work policy has changed from having to have tattoos covered to they can be visible as long as they don't affect your job (I'd assume political beliefs, racist etc)

acasualobserver · 10/10/2016 18:43

Bowie ... what a crock.

BowieFan · 10/10/2016 18:47

If you say so ACasualObserver

I doubt my DP really cares about what an anonymous internet person thinks. He knows what happened, I know what happened, our sons know. I doubt he'll be quaking in his boots over you.

ARCmummy · 10/10/2016 18:50

Is this even a question.... surely it doesn't matter if you have a tattoo?

Go for it. We love them in our house, a way of expressing yourself.

Go for it. X

searchingfortheanswer · 10/10/2016 18:55

My son's nursery requires them to be covered (I only realised this very recently as a result of the tubigrip bandage two of the girls wore - is a short sleeved uniform so not sure why it took me so long!). I think older son's school does too.

I think I would make a judgment as a parent - though not necessarily a bad one. But as an employer of teachers I wouldn't like it. Again though unless it was vile (racist / homophobic etc) I don't think think it would stop me giving someone a job if they were otherwise great.

BowieFan · 10/10/2016 18:55

Well said ARCMummy.

I don't know why some people think that their opinions are the only ones that should matter.

Personally, I wouldn't have a tattoo but I don't care if other people want them. I love DP's tattoos because I know of the signifcance to him and the effect they had on his confidence. I won't mind if my kids want them either, as long as they're not generic ones. If it's something they actually take the time to research and find a design that is important to them or reflects their personality, I'll support them all the way.

RavioliOnToast · 10/10/2016 18:57

I wouldn't be bothered either. I hate this stupid stigma around tattoos and crazy hair- I don't even understand why anyone would give a flying fuck. It's a lotus flower, not a swastika.

Slarti · 10/10/2016 19:43

My son's nursery requires them to be covered

And quite right too! I mean can you imagine the effect a visible tattoo could have on a small child? They could be left traumatised! Cover that harmful skin up for the sake of our children!

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