13 yo tattoo - Page 3 - Hippymom

elicitwords · 06-22-2010, 02:04 PM

as a former teacher... the tattoo would need to be mentioned at least to school guidance counselor, nurse and principal along with communication home via a phone call or some meeting. this is the network a teacher is part of...and the staff is expected to share information so that the child is in no way 'left behind' or lost in a bureaucratic system. is it an ideal system? no not in my opinion. but that is the way it is in NY State. the reality is...not exactly the way the system was designed. a lot of personalities and politics in an individual school system alone. peace

digi_mom · 06-22-2010, 02:07 PM

I am with Bo-I got a tat for my 16th bday. My mom took me...I later had the tat covered up. But 13 that is way too young.

wytchywoman · 06-22-2010, 02:33 PM

Bo, maybe you could have a convo with the teacher about it and say something along the lines of " I really think this needs to be reported. I just wanted to check with you first and see if you had called it in because if you haven't then I'm going to." That way you can find out if she DID call it in, and if she didn't that would be a very nice way of saying "I expect you to follow up on things like these because you're her teacher".
I agree with you, it doesn't matter whether I support tattooing or not, she's 13, it was illegal. I'd report it the same as if I know an adult was furnishing drugs, alcohol or cigarettes to a minor.

JackieBlue · 07-10-2010, 11:10 PM

I never realized that tattooing a 13 year old was illegal before--in my state, as long as you have parent consent you can get a tattoo at practically any age (though the artist has right to refuse). I knew a couple of girls who had tattoos by 13.

Since the teacher is a family friend, maybe she knew it wasn't abuse ect, and didn't report it? I agree with you--the teacher should of followed protocol, and she needs to rectify the situation--I was just thinking of reasons she might not have.

StormyWeather · 07-11-2010, 12:17 PM

I have to tell you, I have had many tattooed students in middle and high school and it's never been a reporting issue, it's a dress code issue, lol - they can't have tattoos showing that are gang-related, sexually explicit, racist, contain foul language or have drug references.

The position is thus: tattoos are illegal, but not abuse. It's like smoking or drinking - we know they do it off campus, but it's up to the parents to parent them...unless they break the law on our campus, at which point we call the police.

However, this particular example would be akin to parents allowing a child to smoke or drink - condoning breaking the law, if you will...not the sort of thing we would report on our own, but if it were in conjunction with one of the kinds of abuse that we are required to report, then it would come to light during an investigation and become a factor for CPS.

Not saying I approve or think it's a good idea (I don't); I'm just sharing what I, personally, have experienced.

Holly

wytchywoman · 07-11-2010, 08:58 PM

Being a teacher puts you at a higher level of responsibility than the general public. I understand the point that a lot of kids drink and smoke, but if the parents are the ones actually providing them with illegal substances then that is abuse as definition by the law. Tattoos probably could be considered the same, it depends on the state. Teachers have no choice but to report that. Failure to report any suspected abuse or neglect is illegal and the teacher could face criminal charges and civil penalties.

06-22-2010, 02:33 PM	#23 (permalink)
wytchywoman I solemnly swear that I am up to no good Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Somewhere between The Leaky Cauldron and The Prancing Pony Sign: Scorpio Posts: 904 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1 Points: 271,313.67 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 271,313.67 Donate	Bo, maybe you could have a convo with the teacher about it and say something along the lines of " I really think this needs to be reported. I just wanted to check with you first and see if you had called it in because if you haven't then I'm going to." That way you can find out if she DID call it in, and if she didn't that would be a very nice way of saying "I expect you to follow up on things like these because you're her teacher". I agree with you, it doesn't matter whether I support tattooing or not, she's 13, it was illegal. I'd report it the same as if I know an adult was furnishing drugs, alcohol or cigarettes to a minor. __________________ M, Pagan Mama to B (16 ) and G (9) .

07-11-2010, 12:17 PM	#25 (permalink)
StormyWeather chinacat sunflower Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: the room of requirement Posts: 2,037 Points: 112,262.21 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 112,262.21 Donate	I have to tell you, I have had many tattooed students in middle and high school and it's never been a reporting issue, it's a dress code issue, lol - they can't have tattoos showing that are gang-related, sexually explicit, racist, contain foul language or have drug references. The position is thus: tattoos are illegal, but not abuse. It's like smoking or drinking - we know they do it off campus, but it's up to the parents to parent them...unless they break the law on our campus, at which point we call the police. However, this particular example would be akin to parents allowing a child to smoke or drink - condoning breaking the law, if you will...not the sort of thing we would report on our own, but if it were in conjunction with one of the kinds of abuse that we are required to report, then it would come to light during an investigation and become a factor for CPS. Not saying I approve or think it's a good idea (I don't); I'm just sharing what I, personally, have experienced. Holly __________________ Yes now I've met me another spinner Of strange and gauzy threads With a long and slender body And a bump upon the head http://diggingdandelions.blogspot.com/

07-11-2010, 08:58 PM	#26 (permalink)
wytchywoman I solemnly swear that I am up to no good Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Somewhere between The Leaky Cauldron and The Prancing Pony Sign: Scorpio Posts: 904 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1 Points: 271,313.67 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 271,313.67 Donate	Being a teacher puts you at a higher level of responsibility than the general public. I understand the point that a lot of kids drink and smoke, but if the parents are the ones actually providing them with illegal substances then that is abuse as definition by the law. Tattoos probably could be considered the same, it depends on the state. Teachers have no choice but to report that. Failure to report any suspected abuse or neglect is illegal and the teacher could face criminal charges and civil penalties. __________________ M, Pagan Mama to B (16 ) and G (9) .

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06-22-2010, 02:04 PM	#21 (permalink)
elicitwords I'm not a spammer! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 38 Points: 2,098.01 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 2,098.01 Donate	as a former teacher... the tattoo would need to be mentioned at least to school guidance counselor, nurse and principal along with communication home via a phone call or some meeting. this is the network a teacher is part of...and the staff is expected to share information so that the child is in no way 'left behind' or lost in a bureaucratic system. is it an ideal system? no not in my opinion. but that is the way it is in NY State. the reality is...not exactly the way the system was designed. a lot of personalities and politics in an individual school system alone. peace

06-22-2010, 02:07 PM	#22 (permalink)
digi_mom love is a poor mans food Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: WA state Posts: 69 Points: 2,748.10 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 2,748.10 Donate	I am with Bo-I got a tat for my 16th bday. My mom took me...I later had the tat covered up. But 13 that is way too young.

07-10-2010, 11:10 PM	#24 (permalink)
JackieBlue Ozark Mountain Daredevil Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 54 Points: 3,220.41 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 3,220.41 Donate	I never realized that tattooing a 13 year old was illegal before--in my state, as long as you have parent consent you can get a tattoo at practically any age (though the artist has right to refuse). I knew a couple of girls who had tattoos by 13. Since the teacher is a family friend, maybe she knew it wasn't abuse ect, and didn't report it? I agree with you--the teacher should of followed protocol, and she needs to rectify the situation--I was just thinking of reasons she might not have.