I got a new job as a teaching assistant in a public school.
I’m just obsessing over the minor detail of my tattoo.
It’s on my calf, and it’s really inoffensive and small (well, it’s tall but narrow- a giraffe). What is the policy for teachers with tattoos? Is it unheard of?
I thought of ways to cover it: I bought a pair of black boots that come up to my knees, I bought knee socks and opaque black tights. Either that or I can wear long pants every single day but I don’t really want to do that.
If your child said that her teacher had a tattoo, would you be offended? Is it totally inappropriate to just let it show once in a while?
“And Rick’s an accountant
That likes Tattoos
Keep 'em all hidden
So his boss approves!”
I’d keep it hidden until you get the lay of the land. You can always reveal it later if it’s cool. But if you go in with it out and it’s NOT cool that’s bad.
It’s trite but true: you never do get a second chance to make a first impression.
FTR, I have one and don’t hide it. But my boss just thinks it’s silly.
No children of my own… yet. But once upon a time, when I was in high-school, one of my favorite teachers had six. Two of them were highly visible. All the kids just thought he was pretty cool.
He also drove a Virago(sp?). Cool… our lit teacher is a biker.
One of the assistant principals at my high school had largeish (jar lid size) tattoos on his forearms that showed every once in a while. It didn’t seem to be a big deal, but then again, he was the one in charge.
I’d go with Johnathan Chance’s suggestion. Cover it until you get a feeling about the administration’s attitude.
I agree that you should cover it at first, also because you want to get the lay of the land and find out how impulsive and peer-pressure driven the students are at your school. Rules or not, it’d suck to see half a dozen kids running around with homemade giraffe tattoos…
Actually, I’d be incredibly flattered to find dozens of students with giraffe tattoos, but I understand where that may go.
I forgot to mention that I would be in a fourth-grade classroom.
Before the unveiling though, say on a Friday, put on a temporary tattoo where it shows. Monday it’s gone. The next Friday put on another, different tempoary tattoo, in another (showing) spot. Monday, again, it’s gone. Again for a third Friday. Everyone should be de-sensitized by then, so that Friday unveil your (real) tattoo, and see who notices Monday that it’s still there.
-Rue.
Keep in mind that there also might be a double standard. Examples so far have been men with tattoos–people’s opinions about a woman with a tattoo might be different. Not necessarily, of course. Just something to think about.
My advice would be to go in stealth mode for a while, too. Once you know some of the faculty and administration, you can feel them out on the issue.
The (male) principal at my son’s elementary school has tattoos. Doesn’t bother me at all. His female kindergarten teacher had three very visible ones, as well.
For the record, I have never covered my tattoo. It is small an unobtrusive, but it is visible unless I’m wearing long pants or socks (which I never do). I’m in an office environment and deal with clients all day as well, nobody has ever commented negatively.
I agree with the others that said to keep it covered for awhile. After you get a feel for the kids and other faculty and you start to develop a relationship with them you can uncover it and see if anything’s said. I’d imagine that the kids may be kind of curious about it so you may want to be prepared to answer some questions about it.
I don’t see anything wrong with a teacher having tattoos. I may be a little biased because I have tattoos myself… one that visible. As long as you don’t offer to take the kids to the tattoo parlor… you’re safe.
