Tattooed teacher says ban is misguided

POLL: Do you think teachers should have to cover their tattoes at school?

OGDEN -- A new Ogden City School District prohibition of visible tattoos on staff members has Mark Johnson concerned the rule is unwarranted.

Johnson, an English teacher, has worked at Ogden High School for 15 years with tattoos that are visible when he wears a short-sleeved shirt. He also got a sleeve tattooed on his right forearm last year as a tribute to his wife and children.

Superintendent Noel Zabriskie said the ban on visible tattoos during work hours or school functions is part of a larger dress code that went into place in January after months of consideration.

It is not a board-approved policy.

The goal of the new dress expectations is to encourage employees to project a more professional image, he said.

While Johnson said he can appreciate the intent of wanting a businesslike image, he doesn't think a carbon-copy staff is necessary to achieve that.

"Covering up, to me, is burying and keeping the stigma of tattooed people alive," he said. "The goal of education should be to open, not to shut, minds."

While Johnson hoped he could be exempt from the rule because he was hired with the tattoos, Zabriskie said the district's legal counsel advised him to be consistent in applying the procedure.

Johnson said he has never heard complaints from students or co-workers about his tattoos.

"I think one of the goals of education is to open people's minds and my arm opens up more conversations with my students than anything else I do about who you are and what they mean," he said.

After disciplinary action was begun against him, Johnson said he has covered up for now, but hopes the district will reconsider or he may try to move schools.

A move would be a big loss to Ogden High, said Lisa Arango, Johnson's wife.

She said he is the only teacher of color in the school and students need to see good role models like her husband.

She said none of his tattoos are offensive, with no naked women or curse words, and her problem is the school seems to not be able to acknowledge his individual merits.

Johnson said he would understand if there were a policy to prohibit offensive tattoos, but an across-the-board ban isn't the way to go.

"I just basically think it's misguided," Johnson said. "They're trying to make a change, but I don't think that's where you start."