In response to remarks regarding tattoos and piercings made by Jorge Subero Isa, President of the Supreme Court, the tattooed and pierced population ofSanto Domingogathered in protest to transmit the message that even though there are people who have tattoos and piercings, they are not criminals and should not be looked down upon as such. Both Isa’s remarks blaming crime and drug use in this country on the tattooed and pierced population, and the protest that followed, inspired The Voice to investigate the school’s view on tattoos and piercings.
TCFL’s policies regarding tattoos and body-piercing are quite straightforward, as was shown during interviews with school directors Carla and Tami. They explained that since teaches have such a huge influence on their pupils, they should always cover up tattoos and display as little non-traditional piercings as possible. Regarding the use of tattoos and piercings on students, they said that they don’t mind students having either tattoos or piercings, it’s their own personal busyness, and that if parents approve, the school will not interfere.
They both said that they have an open mind when interviewing a tattooed and pierced job applicant, that they believe that piercings and tattoos do not affect performance. Citing the example of science teacher Yvette, who has numerous tattoos and piercings, Carla and Tami noted that she has been a very effective teacher, has established the school’s spirit club and has effectively organized numerous school events.
Yvette first got a tattoo when she turned eighteen, and since she grew up in a “surfer atmosphere” inMiami, this was perfectly normal; she loved the way it looked. She said that she didn’t have the approval of her parents, because they were very conservative. Eventually tattoos became part of Yvette’s personal identity. When The Voice questioned Yvette about how other people viewed her many tattoos and piercings, she explained that many people tend not to see the positive side of the person, identifying tattoos and piercings as evidence of lack of education. Yvette noted that she has had difficulties with supervisors and fellow workers in some jobs because of her tattoos. Recognizing that many people tend to judge her, she always makes an effort to cover them up (contributing to the maintenance of a professional environment). She also tries to excel professionally, and by being a hard worker, Yvette wants to dispel the notion that tattoos and piercings are detrimental to job performance
TeacherPalma, who has a nose piercing, pointed out to The Voice that a fact of Dominican culture is that everyone judges others’ appearance. She explained that in places such asNew York, where there is no specific dress code, tattoos and piercings aren’t looked down upon at all. Many other teachers confirmed what bothPalmaand Yvette said.
Kylia Llano, TCFL’s art teacher, helped The Voice understand tattoos as something artistic. She explained that a tattoo is aesthetic; it is a decoration and art on an individual’s body, and that this habit dates back thousands of years, when different ethnic groups used tattoos to beautify themselves. When The Voice asked Kylia if she had designed any tattoos, she answered by explaining that a tattoo is something terribly personal, you can’t just draw something and tattoo it on your body, and that the few tattoos she has designed were for people who had a clear idea of what they wanted, but didn’t possess the artistic skills required to create their own design.
In conclusion, we can say that the tattooed and pierced staff of TCFL is living proof that what Isa claimed is not accurate. Instead of being drug consumers and criminals, these teachers are professionals who have achieved success based upon their excellent work.
Contributed by Ernesto de Leon
