This post was written by Alan Newland at the General Teaching Council for England and was first posted here
Can our appearance impact on our ability to teach?
I was reading a newspaper article recently that reported the dismissal of an air steward because his body weight‘had become disproportionate to his height’ – in other words – he was obese.
Now I’ve never heard of a teacher being dismissed for ‘obesity’ but I guess it begs the question: is there a point at which some personal matter in our lives – our weight for example – might have a bearing on our professional position?
It is of course conceivable that becoming obese might inhibit or prevent us from carrying out the roles and responsibilities of our job – if we were PE teachers for example – where the physical demands of the job are particularly acute – or nursery teachers, where our responsibility to (let’s say) quickly evacuate young children from a building in an emergency is crucial.
So is there a point (and where is it) that others might legitimately question confidence in our ability to do our jobs effectively – like the employers of the hapless airline steward clearly did?
And where does it all stop? What about other personal matters?
I met a student recently doing a maths degree at a top university who wanted to go on to train as a teacher. She was bright, articulate, sociable, worldly and wanted to work in an inner-city school – gold dust for the teaching profession.
She also had body piercings in her nose, lips and ears and tattoos covering her neck and arms.
Does it matter?
Does that matter? It certainly wouldn’t stop her becoming an excellent maths teacher if she had the aptitude and talent.
But is there a point at which others, parents for example, might not want their children taught by such a person? Are there issues for her colleagues too? Do either of them have a right to say so?
What if you’re a chain smoking teacher?
And what if you are a chain-smoking teacher? Is that the business of anyone else but you and your tobacconist?
I was at school in the 1970’s. In those days, staff room doors opened and clouds of cigarette smoke billowed out. I don’t remember thinking any the worse of my teachers for being chain smokers – as some of them clearly were.
These ‘boundaries’ between personal and professional lives… where does it all end?
What do you think?
Do tattoos / piercings have any relevance to someone’s ability to teach?
Should our personal preferences be up for scrutiny if we’re teachers?
Do you or a colleague have piercings / tattoos? What do the kids / parents think?
I don’t think that tattoo’s or piercing’s relate to someones ability to teach unless it is something such as physical education or shop class. I do however believe that it may affect someones perception of you and regretfully peoples judgments and perceptions generally come before they understand or know who you are.
I will have to say that I don’t think personal preferences should be up for judgment or scrutiny, but that is my opinion. I will say that in many instances and situations appearance does hold merit. Should it? NO but regretfully it does. For example, many of my colleagues wear casual pants and golf or dress shirts. I however wear a t-shirt and jeans everyday to work. Why, because I teach severe special needs and sometimes get into physical restraints. I think your job requirements and description dictate what you can “get away with”.
Personally, I do have tattoo’s three of them the smallest being half the size of my head – and that is big. However my tat’s are not visible if I am wearing a T-shirt.
It’s a really interesting point you raise about the difference between what is acceptable in some teaching roles compared to others. I agree that we should never judge people by appearance – but it doesn’t mean we don’t. I wonder if when deciding whether to recruit a teacher with tattoos a school would think more about what the pupils are likely to think or what the parents are likely to think?
I agree wholeheartedly that someone’s appearance should not affect his or her abilities in any way. However apparently it does. However school policies still unfortunately seem to put into practice 20th century “blue collar” policies – these even dictate what we wear, what the students wear and how they wear it. When I used to teach at secondary/high school, the management used to really tell me off because I persisted in wearing jeans… can you imagine what that meant if you have a visible tattoo… Even nowadays that I lecture at University, I dress as I feel more comfortable with. And even though at University level, nobody seems to really push these issues (even though dress code is part of the collective agreement) there are people who still look down because they expect a ‘teacher’ or an educator to assume the role of the principle “fountain of knowledge” which the teacher traditionally is associated with. If we wish to implement approaches to education, which are based on personalised, flexible learning environments where the learners are comfortable to take control over their own learning processes, then we need to start changing our perspectives from the very roots and this also includes our perceptions of who is the teacher and who is the learner… after all, as educators we are also ongoing scholars and learners are also our ‘teachers’ as we go along. So why not share our looks as well.
Thanks for taking the time to comment – you’ve raised some really interesting points. It’s amazing how split opinions are on this. I can’t help but agree with you BUT I think that this would only really work in the context of a complete culture shift.. otherwise we might be inadequately preparing learners for the world of work where they’ll instantly be judged on arriving at an interview… tattoos, piercings, jeans are all the type of thing that will instantly diminish most people’s chances of securing a job. Rightly of wrongly…
I think as long as it doesn’t inhibit your ability to do your job, what does it matter? We are always being told about the importance of diversity and tolerance, so to tell teachers that they can’t teach because they look different to the status quo seems absurd. Being different is what makes people special.
I agree with you in theory – that everyone has a right to express their individuality; but seeing as most school uniform policies deny children of this right (they are generally not allowed tattoos, multiple piercings, crazy hair etc) why should / would the teachers be allowed?
I have tattoos (lots of them) I cover most of them at work but some of the ones on my lower arms are visible in the summer months. I have also been graded outstanding by ofsted and all my students get good results, it makes no difference what I look like I ‘m also a little over weight who cares!
The kids may ask a few questions the first time I teach them but it breaks the ice, most of them/their parents have tattoos anyway, tattoos are much more mainstream than they where a few years ago!
Devil’s advocate:
How would we feel if a surgeon arrived before a vital operation sporting a pink mohekian?
Would we mind if our solicitor arrived before an important hearing in hot pants?
Would this in any way affect their professional abilities? Or would it ‘just’ be our perception?
I’m inked and pierced: although most of it is out of sight of the kids I do get asked, for example on non-uniform days. Partly I object to the double standard that means female teachers with ‘extra’ earrings or frequently visible lower back tattoos are okay but I hesitate before having, for example, a wrist design.
I’ve *never* had negative comments from a student – on the contrary it’s sometimes been a useful icebreaker. Your point about smoking is an interesting one. Should we be expected to leave a pub if parents/students come in during the evening? Should teachers on maternity leave stop breastfeeding their children in Costa when pupils enter? I’d consider covering my tattoos during an interview to be the equivalent of wearing a smart suit, showing I’m serious. But I don’t intend to change my private life for a job, even if it is in the public sector.
The comparison with students is a bit of a false one, anyway – students can’t have tattoos due to age, not school rules. And most schools, rightly or wrongly, have different expectations of kids in terms of uniform and jewellery to teachers.
Our school has just introduced a brand new uniform for the kids, & it’s being hammered in how important it is that they wear it correctly. The staff dresscode hasn’t changed, but I’ve started wearing a suit jacket around school. I figure I can’t tell the pupils to look smart unless I do too. So far those I’ve discussed that with have respected it.
Interesting point about diversity further up. It’s vital pupils are exposed to a range of appearances, beliefs, ideas, etc. and learn that although there are contexts in which appearance is very important, generally it is your actions that count, not your individual & legitimate lifestyle choices.
I’m another tattooed teacher. I have three – one on top of my foot, one on my wrist and one on my lower back. The former two are visible on a regular basis because I refuse to wear long sleeves and I exist in sandals from March to October.
In FE, many of my students already have tattoos themselves. If they don’t, then it’s often something they are considering. I have the chance to recommend a good tattooist, give them some tips and remind them to make it something special to them (and never to have a girlfriend or boyfriend’s name inked!). I’ve met many parents at open days and parents’ evenings. None have ever objected either to me or to a manager. Perhaps my II(i) from Cambridge cancels out the horror they feel (in which case, finally a use for it!)?
What is interesting is that, while it has been suggested that there may be an objection to teachers having visible tattoos in this post and in some of the comments, no one has explicitly stated what visible tattoos say about their owner. So what supposed characteristics do visible tattoos impart? Are we lazy? Aggressive? Unengaged with students? Come on, what is it about us with tattoos that means parents think we’re unsuitable to allow near Tarquell or Jocasta?
I think it’s becoming more and more common. I’m the only one in my section with them. However, several of my PGCE lecturers (employed at the same college) have them, and my line manager’s manager has recently got a very large one up her forearm. Like Ian, I’ll be discreet about them at interview, but while they’re such a brilliant way of talking about trace fossils, Lazarus taxa and comparative cranial anatomy, I’m sure as hell not covering them up for work!
I have been a teacher for 10 years and have worked in the UK for 5 and then overseas for the last 5. I had one tattoo when I started my career and this has increased to 5 now. I have a visible one on my wrist and the others are visible or covered depending on the weather!
I have two large ones; one on each shoulder and if I wear a vest then they can both be seen clearly. I also have a tongue piercing which I have had for 12 years.
At my first school in the UK noboby even noticed the tongue piercing.
Since then, colleagues, pupils and management have been able to see my tattoos and piecrings and I have never had any negative comments made about them They are attractive and, if a pupil or colleague asks about them I am able to explain where I got them done and for what reasons – they all have very personal connotations for me. Students have always been interested and if they ask, I explain and then we move on. It’s never been an issue but maybe I have been lucky.
I really want to have a full sleeve done but I think, as a female teacher, this can be more problematic as we are less likely to wear long sleeved shitrs in order to ‘hide’ them. Not that I think we should have to. However, I do think tattoos in excess can be problematic; people do judge and assume things about your background or perhaps even your outlook upon life.
Does it hinder your ability as a teacher? Not at all. Can it put some prospective employers off? Yeah, for sure. You just need to be careful and think about what you get. Teachers are professional and are not likely to get a big naked woman or a skull and cross bones on their face or chest! That WOULD be inappropriate!
One of my tattoos is a pair of skulls on my shoulder – it represents the masks of the theatre – I’m and English teacher and love Shakespeare and it also represents a moment in my life. People respect that and find it interesting.
At interview I would probably wear a suit, and would make sure I had secured the job before asking about their policy. Mind you, I have never done this before; I just turned up ready to teach and people have noticed the tattoos over time.
I used to teach in Egypt, a moslem country and didn’t even have any issues there; with either parents, pupils, colleagues or managers.
I have read lots of posts and similar threads and most poeple seem to have had positive experiences. I’ve never heard of anyone being refused a job because of a tattoo.
That’s great – I love the sound of those tragedy / comedy masks. I think you’re right that not all tattoos are the same even if that can sometimes be the popular conception. Ultimately it’s a personal choice and it has absolutely no bearing at all on your ability to teach, like whether I drink whiskey or Guinness!
Unfortunately we are all judged by the way we look – if it’s not tattoos and piercing its being too big too small. I am a teaching student and currently have 9 tattoos and on each of my placements I have received the top grades available on teaching practice, so it frustrates me that people do discriminate by what you look like. If I had the choice between a school with an outstanding tattooed teacher and a school with a good non-tattooed teacher there is no way I would choose the latter for the sake of a tattoo.
It makes me sad that when I visit schools, go to interviews I have to cover my tattoos and when I’m planning another I have to be so careful on the placement of it – it’s a little different if the tattoos can be offensive or unsuitable for the environment but hearts, stars names etc show you are creative and passionate about things and with the government today pushing creative teachers then maybe schools and parents need to think carefully about their prejudice!
Well, i am a Body Piercer, and after reading all this I PROMISE i ll do my best to keep on spreading body piercings and modifications!!!!!!!!!!! ………..
It is a BASIC HUMAN RIGHT to do what you like with your body – and it is the same about your sexuality. YOUR BODY IS YOURS.
People who actually try to do what they feel with their bodies or sexualities, (even in the so called developed countries), get social violence on many different levels, and have to face all sorts of discriminations, at school, at work, or in the streets. (etc…)
- Remember Sophie, killed in the U.K a few years ago, for just being dressed as a Gothic, that is to say all in black…… -
If only education was about opening minds instead of shutting people down for this kind of shallow reasons. If only they d teach respect and equality rather than conformity..
Instead it s always the same pattern: throw a rock at whomever is different, whether it is a kid or a teacher…………. It saddens me highly.
I reckon if you are against people having the choice to do what they want with their lives, there s one aim for you guys; a fascist system ! Forget any sort of democracy, get yourself some other Hitler ! – Bring back extreme rules and get rid of people who don t conform. It has been proven to work in the past.
Another question is why are you doing children if it is to impose to them the opposite of freedom, with alienating them for feeling their bodies or sexualities.
( – while you have tasteless haircuts and ugly bodies and probably no longer any sexuality yourself. – But yes, you are the so called RESPECTABLE people, with no piercings, no visible tattoos, so you can “teach”, and traumatize young human beings, that is NORMAL after all. )
Don t you want your children to live in a fair world, and happy?????
Is that the way the world goes……………..
I honestly do not think that tattoos or body piercings are going to affect whether or not you can teach. Now if you have tattoos that say vulgar things, or on your face or something, then I think the school can decide, but I think lip piercings, or any facial piercing shouldn’t affect whether or not you can teach. Now if you have a million and one face piercings, then I think the school will decide accordingly. It all depends on what tattoos, what you teach, and where they are and how many. I want to become a teacher, and have a tattoo sleeve and express myself. I think piercings,and tattoos are just another way of people expressing themselves. If the school doesn’t allow that…then what will the kids think? That being yourself is not good.
My daughter is in year 3 and is 7 years old. Her latest teacher looks like a Barbie Doll with fake tan, hair extensions, fake lashes and bare legs with 6″ stilletos.
Even though I was a punk in my youth , I was not impressed or convinced that this is the teacher for my daughter especially for primary education. It makes her look incompetent, even though she is head of maths. I did meet with her but felt her fake appearance distracting and my daughter has confirmed that her in-class behaviour is a bit sloppy, dresses a bit short, bare legs and high heels even during P.E and eating in class and speaking with her mouth full.
Generally the female teachers wear what they like and display tongee piercings, tatoos, tarty clothes and shoddy behaviour that the children do not see in their own parents, even in the run down estate where we are.
If only I had enough money or lived closer to a better school.