Walter Smith, Florida tattoo artist, banned from school career day: ‘it’s an alternate lifestyle’
Walter Smith is a tattoo artist in Clearwater, Forida and has several tattoos and piercing himself.
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Over several years he has participated in school functions as the Great American Teach-in at his daughter’s middle school. However, he received an email from the school’s principal (who stated he has several pieces of body art himself) that he could not attend this year’s event, scheduled for November 15.
Some parents believe he is promoting an alternative lifestyle to young children.
Smith states that when talking to children about tattoos, he emphasizes the importance of waiting until they are of legal age and compares the work to a surgical procedure.
He explains safety and infection risks and points out teenagers who have gotten infections from homemade tattoos and piercings. Smith also states that his shop uses sterile equipment and always passes health inspections.
The principle states the decision was made in the spirit of political correctness.
As Smith states, teenagers will do what they want to do so isn’t it better they are educated of the risks.
“The parents are closed-minded and don’t want their children to know about these things,” Smith said
Smith is currently fighting the decision and hopes to be able to attend the school event.
