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?

Is it a tattoo of a large pink vibrator? Prob best not to go life-size then.... You teachers!!!

I don't think you're a snob for disliking tattoos Head.

Absolutely fine to have personal dislikes.

But I agree that it's pretty ridiculous to allow that to determine how you relate to people.

Possibly worth pointing out that it would be awfully difficult for a teacher not to be able to overcome their prejudices about personal appearance - we routinely deal with students/colleagues/parents whilst inwardly thinking 'crikey, what have you done to your eyebrows' or 'strewth, interesting choice of shoes there'...

...& then get on with the meeting or whatever.

So yes, I can acknowledge that having a whopping great visible & uncoverable tattoo might be a job blocker if I were to be interviewed by someone with a dislike of them they couldn't overcome - & be pragmatic enough to not have one for that reason.

Still doesn't make that tattoo inherently a Bad Thing though - & I still believe that my personal & irrational likes/dislikes about others' appearance shouldn't be allowed to impact on my professional (or for that matter social) interactions with them.

I keep mentioning to people on my PGCE course who are scared about this that there are cover up make-up techniques (usually along the lines of green makeup over red followed by foundation/concealer). However, you know your school better. Just a suggestion, if you're worried check out some cover-up tutorials on youtube.

I chaired a meeting on Staff Dress Code at my previous school where the HR person was arguing strenuously that teachers should be barred from wearing 'provocative' patterned tights - she didn't approve of anything lacey as I recall.

Hasty back pedalling when I waved at her my ankles, which between my long skirt & sensible court shoes were clad in fishnet knee highs.

It's just...silly. & infantilising of fellow professionals.

Teachers are hard to come by atm. Fair enough to object to someone turning up in a bustier, jeans & 6" heels. That's impractical. Some artwork on their skin? Not important.

I'm a tattooist, and have had visible tattoos for a long time. I can cover most of mine up if I feel its necessary, but that would require wearing long sleeves and high necks, which in warmer weather is not practical or comfortable. I usually tell people - if in doubt, don't have it done. It's probably only advisable to get a visible tattoo if you are totally unconcerned about other people's opinions, and if you are asking for opinions on a forum it implies at least a small degree of concern.

Tattoos are not universally accepted as being part of a 'smart' appearance, especially not in a professional atmosphere that has any element of a dress code. I know this because I've worked in the industry for almost two decades, and have heard hundreds of stories from people who naively thought that tattoos had been 'normalised' enough to have something done on their forearm/neck/fingers/hand and not get any stick for it. You absolutely will get stick for it at some point in most teaching environments, and it all really depends on whether you can be bothered with that, or just want an easy worklife.

Surely "alternative" nowadays is not having any tattoos? Do what you like but I'm not sure the kids regard tattoos as anything but naff and for old people nowadays. Everything dates.

I'd say it's your body and you should do what you want. A tattoo does not represent your ability to teach which is what is important and anyone that questions it should be told as such.
I was told many years ago by the job centre that I would never get a job looking the way I did. I had bright pink hair, tattoos and piercings and to be honest never gave a crap what they thought and ended up getting a job in a children's home and promptly told the person in the job centre to stick their advice where the sun don't shine. The company my dp works for doesn't allow staff with tattoos to have them on display when dealing directly with customers and the have to keep them covered at all times. Utterly stupid rules, as the customer isn't there to admire their body's but buy the product they sell. It's about time society came into the 21st century and stopped judging people by appearances.

It's about time society came into the 21st century and stopped judging people by appearances.

But it isn't going to stop. In fact society is becoming more image focussed, not less.
And tattoos are part of that process. That's the irony. Like it or not tattoos play a part on the intensification of the idea that appearance is important. You think you are shunning this problem, in fact you are helping to create it.

The other irony about your post is this- promptly told the person in the job centre to stick their advice where the sun don't shine. The company my dp works for doesn't allow staff with tattoos to have them on display

You had a rude response to someone trying to help you seek employment, no doubt claiming that appearance doesn't matter, yet you then tell us about your OHs place of work which clearly does consider this a matter.

And the truth is it does matter. We are judged by our appearance. And many love that fact, even going about their daily business with bright pink hair, tattoos and piercings.

Everyone judges people based on how they present themselves. Why young people today are willing to alter their appearance permanently is beyond my understanding. Tattoos deteriorate with time as the body absorbs the ink and colours change. Sometimes removal is possible, often it is not and you end up disfigured
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Imagine in the future you become an amazing teacher yet are passed over for promotion because you chose to have a visible tattoo. Not fair but it could happen.

I really don't think people take tattoos that seriously anymore. I'm talking the decorative as opposed to violent or offensive kind.

How would you word your complaint about a visible tatto of a bird say?

It wouldn't put me off hiring and I work in a professional sharklike atmosphere

I really don't think people take tattoos that seriously anymore

I'm not sure what you mean by 'taking them seriously'. There are a lot of people who still hate them and where those people are in a hiring position, you might have a problem. You could argue that tattoos are ubiquitous to the point that hiring managers couldn't consciously submit to such a bias, but I wouldn't want to take that risk.

As mainstream as tattoos are these days there are still lots of people who hate the sight of them. I think in a profession like teaching where it's probably best to err on the conservative side you'd be cutting your nose off to spite your face to get a visible tattoo.

The tattoo that I had done nearly 30 years ago has not faded, stretched or lost definition and I still love it as much as I did then. It is very special to me and I could never get bored of it. I had my second tattoo done this year at the grand old age of 48 and again it is something very special to me that is a statement about who I am. It is on my forearm and is quite big and striking. I work part time in a very nice nursery and the kids haven't even noticed it, neither have the parents. I also work with a lot of very well to do older people and many of them have admired my tattoo and asked me to explain it's meaning. It certainly hasn't made any of them think I am unprofessional as they are continuing to use my services and often recommend me to their friends.

My daughter attends a PRU, and I have to say I've never noticed any visible tattoos, except huge ones on one teachers arms. I quite like them, as they make him look slightly scary, (even though I don't think he is at all) and I don't think he gets much abuse from the pupils.

Can I just say that daughter has been in a PRU for almost four terms now and I've never met such wonderful teachers in my life. You work extremely hard in challenging circumstances, and I have so much repeat and praise for the whole team

Lots of younger professional people now have body modfications - discreet maybe but certainly visible if you look for them.

I, myself, interviewed for a senior client facing position with a very traditional accountancy practice and completely forgot to remove my nose stud. I was sure I'd blown it but I was offered the job and continued to wear my stud daily. It was never ever mentioned either by my employer or by my clients, many of which were companies whose names you would recognise.

I have come across teachers, nurses and other professionals with tattoos and I don't like it. I think it detracts from their professionalism. If I was being treated by two nurses and one had tattoos and the other didn't I would be inclined to listen to and trust the one without. My daughter had a teacher with a nose ring, it made me think she wasn't very professional when she joined and I was wary.

People make assumptions because of appearance rightly or wrongly. Like the poster said above, when you are in a professional role it is better to stay neutral. I have also found it interesting that so many people on this thread seem to think that there should be a disregard for outward seriousness and for professionalism. Sometimes in aspects of life you have to think about how other people might feel.

*For full disclosure I have a small non-visible tattoo from 20 years ago. Not particularly proud of it nor do regret it. I thought it was a good idea at the time and I admit I thought I was very cool. Hmmmm