School tells girl, 6, rub-on tattoo has got to go

[Rat-tat-tat]

http://www.canada.com/ottawa/news/ci...db85e4&k=26696

Six-year-old Olivia Davis learned in school this week that fake tattoos are a great way to get attention. She also learned attention isn't always fun.

It began when the Grade 1 pupil at Jockvale Elementary School in Barrhaven went to class on Monday, sporting rub-on tattoos that had been applied at a birthday party on the weekend.

Her mother, Diane Davis, described the tattoo on Olivia's right forearm as a "paisley print" design that was "girly" and a "very pretty" blend of black, silver and gold colours.

But it was the other tattoo, the one on Olivia's left arm, that the school board saw in a different light.

"The young lady in question had two tattoos; the one on her right hand is the one her mother described," said Charlene Hunter, a spokeswoman for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. "The one on her left arm went from above her forearm, down to almost her wrist, and was in the form of some sort of black bird like an eagle.

"Because the child is small, this huge tattoo was very distracting to the other students. On Monday, her teacher asked her if she would remove the tattoo. The girl indicated that she knew she shouldn't be wearing it. Then came Tuesday and the tattoo was still there."

The board does have dress codes, which are interpreted by the principal and the school councils of the individual schools, said Ms. Hunter.

She said principal Charlotte Simpson quietly told Olivia the tattoo was inappropriate.

"Really, that's one of the definitions of what the school dress code is about."

The tattoo on Olivia's left arm was "deemed to be inappropriate and to be distracting to the other students in the class," said Ms. Hunter.

But Ms. Davis doesn't see the tattoo on Olivia's left arm as being being remotely bird-like.

"Honestly, it doesn't look like a bird to me. I just look at them as being paisley-type things."

Olivia was "very upset" when she got off the school bus on Wednesday, her mother said.

"She said, 'Mom, am I bad?' And she asked, 'What does offensive mean?'

"I'm a mother. I'm a protector, I didn't like seeing my daughter upset. So I was quite upset by this."

Ms. Davis said Olivia told her the principal, Ms. Simpson, had taken the girl aside and quietly explained that tattoos were offensive and not tolerated at school.

"I knew tattoos are against the rules, and the reason is because they could be gang insignia. The principal told me there has to be zero tolerance. But Olivia is six years old."

"I think this is a case where there has to be some common sense," said Ms. Davis. "There was no call home to me, and no note to me.

"I will admit I said 'You know, I'm really upset that my daughter is in a school with a principal that is B-I-T-C-H-Y. She said, 'Well, those tattoos will be off her arms tomorrow.' And I said, 'They probably won't be.'

"I'm not normally a rebel, I'm a rule follower. But there has to be some common sense."

Ms. Davis added that her grandfather was "covered" in tattoos.

"He served in the war. I don't want Olivia thinking that tattoos are offensive. I'm curious how many teachers at the Ottawa Carleton board have tattoos themselves."