Help!!!

[Davita]

i currently work as a phlebotomist at a hospital, but quickly figured out that this isnt a career id like for the rest of my life....after considering many things that seem interesting to me, i have realized that my heart is in music and teaching! i was in advanced choir in high school all four years and it was the love of my life! Im now considering to make this my life for good, but am worried! i know for sure that id be able to find nice dress clothes to wear to work that covers my tattoos, but i am worried about outside of work....i remember in high school seeing my teachers all the time outside of school....it scares me that i will see a student and their parents outside of school and the parents will be offended by my tattoos and will report to the school.....i KNOW that i would be a great teacher and i love music so it would be such a joy, but im very worried about the close minded people we live in this world with.....what if the parents of my teenagers cant see through my tattoos and realize that im there to help their kids and teach them discipline, music and how to be committed to a team!!! please leave me comments, concerns and advice....its very very appreciated!!!!
love lots
Davita

[Gordon B.]

OK, I can respond to that with first-hand knowledge!

I'm a veteran teacher, just started my 21st year in the profession, and two years ago I got a backpiece (it's my profile pic). So I wrestled with this same thing, because of several things. We live in a really small village where everyone knows everyone. You think that nothing travels faster than the speed of light? Ha. Check the speed of gossip in my hometown. Plus, I like to work outside shirtless in the summer; plus, I belong to the local gym, and so do several students & teachers & parents; plus, when I work out I like to wear a tanktop, and the tattoo is clearly visible when I do. Not to mention being seen in the gym locker room or swimming at the local lake.

So, I had some options: (1) don't get the tattoo. Obviously I didn't choose that one, but I did hesitate for a while. (2) get the tattoo, but keep it a secret, and change my exhibitionist ways - don't go shirtless outside, and wear a t-shirt, not a tanktop, while I'm lifting at the gym. That seemed like a copout & hiding who I am because of what others might think. (3) get the tattoo, and see what happens.

(3) is what I did. It remained a secret for some time, but my son, of all people, is the one who let the cat out of the bag (or the dogs, actually). He was in my class last school year (being a small school, if your dad or mom is a teacher, you'll probably end up having them as a teacher at some point). I teach biology. So during one lesson we're talking about skin, and as the class was packing up at the end, some kid says, "Talking about skin made me think about tattoos. I'd never get a tattoo -- they must hurt." And my son says, without even thinking, "Oh, my dad says they're not that painful."

Well, 25 pairs of eyes all turned toward me simultaneously. My son realized suddenly that he'd blown my secret, and he apologized afterwards, but there was nothing he could do at that point. Then the bell rang. Within about 2.8 microseconds every student in the school knew. So I thought, "ok, what do I do now?" Finally I figured, better to be proactive, so I went to my principal, and told her what happened -- and said she might get a parent call, and asked her how she wanted me to handle the situation.

Her response? "No problem. What you do with your body on your own time is your own business. If a parent doesn't like it, I'll ask him/her, 'and how does having a tattoo make your child's biology teacher less effective?' That ought to shut them up." I could have hugged her on the spot.

So I totally relaxed about it. I still periodically have students say, "do you really have a tattoo?" to which I say, "yup." The few who are cheeky enough to say, "show me" get a raised eyebrow, followed by, "I am _not_ taking my shirt off in school. Sorry." And this past summer I went to a swimming party at the house of one of the other faculty, so half the staff got to see it. And their response? I got several "that's _so_ cool!", a couple of "why dogs?", and one "I have wanted to do that all my life, it's so awesome you did it!" And the tech teacher showed me _his_ tattoo and we compared stories about why we chose the designs we did. Not a single negative comment. I figure, like my principal says: what's on my skin has no effect on my teaching. So why should I be worried about it?

My advice: if your heart says to become a teacher, go for it. My 21st first day of school is tomorrow, and I couldn't be more excited. My guess is that if you're as discreet as you can be, but as relaxed as you can be about it, the students will think it's cool, the administration won't give a damn, and the parents will be envious of you for your beautiful adornments, and wonder why they don't get one themselves.

cheers,

Gordon

[Davita]

thank you for your reply and this made me some what better....but there are still quite a few more problems that i approach!!! 1) i have tatttoos all the way down to my wrist...and a huge chest piece.....so its not just like something that the back of my shirts will cover....out of work my arms and chest will always be visible...and 2) im a girl....its SHOULDNT make a difference, but it does!!! who gets more stares...a guy with sleeves or a girl with sleeves?? the girl...and that sucks because its the same damn thing, ya know!!?? plus i live in ky and everyone is soooo close-minded here, i hate it!!! you get what i mean????
thanks alot though....i appreciated your response!!!

love lots
Davita

[Gordon B.]

I understand totally -- 'specially about the closed minded thing, I grew up in Louisiana & as much as I hate the stereotypes about the south, it's true that businesses & schools & such tend to be way more conservative down there. And the gender thing, well, you're right but it's _so_ unfair. I don't know why it should make a difference.

I still think you should go for it. In my experience, you never go wrong by following your heart.

good luck!

G

[Pyrrhus Darwin Castello]

Maybe they just havent really been around a person who has tattoos and is smart and a good person? Maybe you can just gather them around for a meeting, offer them some juice and buiscuits and say that you are heavily tattooed. Let them aks questions and be curious. I think that would help :) I had the same thing when I started in my work. The boss did even say hello to me when I saw her on the street because I had tattoos. They havent been around person with many tattoos who wasnt been on jail etc. So they dindt know any better. But I did my job good and still continue to do so and they now say that there isnt ANY possibility that they would let me leave :) So I know you will be ok.

[Davita]

thanks alot....that made me feel even better....when i discussed this with my friends, they said well maybe you can show them that people with tattoos are punks and can be good people, which sound like a good plan but ive just been freakin bc i dont want to go to school for 4 years and then have my dreams crushed!!! but i definently think that im gonna go for it!!!!
thanks everyone

[Dana]

I'm not a teacher but I do have a few teacher friends and this conversation has come up. I just think that you may find you have to wear long sleeves...at least until you prove that you're an awesome teacher.

Unfortunately body art is not protected as a civil right so schools can technically not hire you because of your tattoos. I'm sure you will be able to find a job, you just might have to do a bit more searching than someone with no tattoos. Although the stereotypes still exist and it may make finding a job a little more difficult it sounds like teaching music is what you want and having tattoos shouldn't keep you from doing that.

Besides, if you don't end up finding a job teaching music in a school because of your tattoos there's no reason why you couldn't open up your own music school or find an alternative placement to teach music. The possibilites are endless!