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Parents against the teacher, the most tattooed man in France: “It scares the children”

PARIS – “My appearance is no obstacle to my work”. Sylvain, 35, an elementary school teacher in Essonne, south of Paris, is known for being the most tattooed man in France, at least that’s what he calls himself, and looking at him it seems real. There isn’t an inch of her skin’s Freaky Hoody – this is his stage name – that he is not covered with drawings, including face, skull. Even the whites of his eyes were covered in black ink. In the world of tattoos Freaky Hoody is a celebrity, he has participated in various fairs in which he performs periodically.

Except that the “artist performer” has also been a precarious teacher for twelve years. He first taught in the UK where his passion for tattoos blossomed. “Three months after my arrival – he remembers – I started with both arms. In less than three years I had my whole body tattooed in the visible parts until I had no more space and then I continued with the gums and inner lips, genitals, palms of hands and feet. I don’t do things by halves and you only live once. “

For years, Freaky Hoody has been doing substitutions in elementary and middle schools and now he no longer goes to kindergarten after some parents complained last year, accusing him of scaring the children. Her case has sparked a new controversy in France about the look to have at school. The movement of high school students to wear miniskirts and very short T-shirts, which was then also revived in Italy, was taken up by the Minister of Education with a gaffe. The minister suggested that they come to the classroom with a “republican outfit”, without anyone understanding what that means. Meanwhile, a deputy from the majority proposes to make uniforms compulsory at school.

The story of Freaky Hoody instead concerns a master. Following the reports of the families, the superintendent was forced to order an inspection which did not find any problems in the teaching or in the behavior of the teacher. “I have always worked very well at school, I am sweet and attentive, I also think I improve with experience” says Sylvain who has given several interviews in recent days to denounce a new attempt at discrimination against him. Parents returned to ask the Superintendent for an inspection. “The complaints come from people who don’t even know me and have no children in my class,” he points out.

Freaky Hoody doesn’t hide the fact that at the beginning of the year, children are a little surprised to find it in front of them. “After the first surprise – he adds – we establish a good relationship and they find me very cool”. The Provveditorato has decided to place the teacher only in elementary or middle school classes to avoid creating new controversies with families. “I can understand a measure of prudence – he replies – but I repeat that I am not a provocateur. And I think instead that my appearance teaches children what diversity is”.

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