Schools
Clearwater Tattoo Artist Banned From Middle School's Teach-In
Tattoo artist Walter Smith was told he isn't welcome at the event at Clearwater Fundamental Middle School, where he has spoken the last two years and where his daughter is a student, according to ABC Action News.
A Clearwater tattoo artist has been told he isn't welcome at a Clearwater middle school's Great American Teach-in event because some parents say he is "promoting an alternative lifestyle," ABC Action News reports.
Walter Smith has attended the event for the past two years at Clearwater Fundamental Middle School, where his daughter is a student, according to ABC's story.
The school's principal, who admits to having tattoos and piercings himself, ABC reports, emailed Smith last month to say "his decision is not 'personal' but 'politically correct,' " according to the story.
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Smith told the news station he tries to discourage students from getting tattoos or piercings before they turn 18 and teaches them about safe tattooing and piercing practices.
A spokesperson for Pinellas Schools told ABC they stand by the principal's decision. The 2012 Great American Teach-in takes place Nov. 15.
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