The Yellow Board

Tattoos

Posted by Newbie on 11/24/2020, 8:25 pm

Hello everybody! I am graduating soon and anticipating interviews for assistant band director positions. I have a few questions regarding tattoos. How do future employers usually react to tattoos now-a-days? I have a few tattoos on my right arm. All of them are school appropriate and non-vulgar. I am VERY worried about how this may affect interviews and future positions.

My other question is what is your opinion on having them covered everyday during school? Is this “normal” practice within the school systems now?

Thank you for any and all options!

Re: Tattoos

Posted by Megan on 12/9/2020, 8:42 am, in reply to "Tattoos"

I have an inner arm tattoo from my wrist to my elbow. I taught for two years. It was covered in my interview and I tried to cover it for a while, but ended up not having to. I worked in a very small rural school. It's really going to depend on the school and who you are working with. I know other schools where they have to be covered. I honestly never got any slack for it except from the head director who made fun of me for trying to cover it (in a playful way -- we were cool like that).

Re: Tattoos

Posted by you should on 12/1/2020, 12:13 pm, in reply to "Tattoos"

Be wearing a suit for any and all interviews. That would cover the arm tattoos, unless it goes into your hands. Also, once you get a job, you will have to abide by whatever rule your district requires regarding tattoos. If they don't mind, fine, if they require that they be covered, start buying long sleeve shirts.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by tattooed on 11/30/2020, 10:51 am, in reply to "Tattoos"

Wear a long sleeve shirt to your interview, as you should anyway (and probably a suit jacket). If you're hired, ask what the local policy is. Or look at their employees handbook if you can find it online. I've had to wear long sleeves in some districts, and some could care less. Either way, not a big deal imo. Wearing long sleeves protects from the sun which just keeps your tats looking better longer anyway.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by Thunder on 11/29/2020, 4:21 pm, in reply to "Tattoos"

As someone who has a co-worker with a full sleeve, I don't personally care. However my district requires that tattoos be covered.

As far as the legal ramifications of it, as mentioned below, it surprises me that nobody has pushed the issue yet. Tinker v. DesMoines (1969) states that just because a student or teacher step foot on school grounds their 1st amendment rights do not stop. Therefore speech (as discussed in regards to clothing, but could extend to tattoos in my opinion) cannot be stopped unless it causes a classroom disruption. In my band-director-knows-everything mind, I believe that requiring teachers to cover non-vulgar tattoos is a violation of the Tinker v. DesMoines ruling and therefore illegal. But given that I have no tattoos that would normally be visible nor do I have the capital to fund a fight all the way to SCOTUS, I'm not pushing the issue.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by Our school on 11/27/2020, 8:18 am, in reply to "Tattoos"

will make you cover any visible tattoos. I wouldn’t go to interviews with them showing.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by Hm. on 11/27/2020, 2:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Tattoos"

Just wondering how that legally stands up.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by Legally on 11/27/2020, 8:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Tattoos"

the only problem is if the tattoo is for religious or cultural purposes. Otherwise, there is no legal problem. It’s kind of like a school being able to tell you what’s appropriate clothing.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by dvm on 11/27/2020, 5:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Tattoos"

Perfectly fine.

Employers can set standards for employment. Dress codes, fraternization, morals clauses, certain numbers of days absent, living in the school district, etc. As long as it doesn't violate discrimination based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or handicap (did I leave any out?) your employer has every right to establish the workplace they choose.

Having a armadillo tattooed on your forehead is not a protected class.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by BDSO on 11/27/2020, 2:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Tattoos"

The exact same way as stating no jeans or shorts or any other apparel that the district may seem "unprofessional".

Re: Tattoos

Posted by Me on 11/27/2020, 2:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Tattoos"

Our district policy is the same. Must be covered. We have a coach with sleeves that keeps them covered at all times.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by Non tattooed person on 11/24/2020, 10:58 pm, in reply to "Tattoos"

I personally don't care, but some people in the interview might. I'd suggest you keep them covered through the interview process, and make sure they can't be seen on Facebook (which you should scrub anyway).

Re: Tattoos

Posted by old fart on 11/24/2020, 10:22 pm, in reply to "Tattoos"

Ok, I am an older director... 29 years experience. In my opinion, the only people who care if you have tattoos don't have tattoos. I have 4. All are covered though so the kids have never seen them. Well, occasionally, they see the bottom of one peek out from under a short shirt sleeve, but they haven't seen the whole thing. I agree that if you are dressed enough for an interview, they probably won't be seen. Once you are hired, you can look at the school dress code and decide how to dress from there.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by rural on 11/24/2020, 9:11 pm, in reply to "Tattoos"

I'm a HD in a rural community. Both of my assistants have tattoos. I dont. I havent asked either one of them to keep them covered and it did not make a difference either way when I hired them.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by DesertJazz on 11/24/2020, 9:01 pm, in reply to "Tattoos"

Depends on your location in the state and district. Rural schools will have more of a problem with it than an urban setting. I believe mine states that things must be covered. With where you said you have it I would suggest being dressed nice enough for an interview that no one would see it anyways just to avoid any stereotyping in peoples minds. I have a few friends with tattoos and I think the majority of them keep them covered. My guard instructor has quite a few, and hates that she has to keep them covered in the summer.

Personally I don't care, but be warned 'first impressions' will always matter in an interview.

Re: Tattoos

Posted by Also Old Fart on 11/29/2020, 8:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Tattoos"

I agree with Old Fart. I think this is less of an issue now. I would keep them covered in the interview But, you might want to check district policies before applying to see if it works for you.

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