Teacher Tattoos: Ms. Weisman

Carver Center is known for its open and laid-back community that allows students the freedom of diversity and self-expression. Only weeks into a brand new school year, it is obvious how vibrantly students are allowed to exist within the school’s hallways as they please whether that be through daring fashion choices, bright hair colors, inquisitive paintings, fluid glissades and pirouettes, or a quick tune on the piano between classes. 

However, it is important to note that Carver Center’s love for self-expression does not end with the students. Teachers, too, have their own way of sharing and commemorating the people, memories, and things they love.  This week, one of Carver Center’s favorite teachers sat down to give me an insight into their favorite tattoos.

Weisman

One of our notorious, super awesome, English teachers, Miss Weisman, got her first tattoo at the age of eighteen. In love with the handcrafted design of a friend’s necklace, she asked for her own. They later got each other’s necklaces tattooed and it became the first of many.

Anyone who knows Miss Weisman also knows her sarcasm. On her upper right arm sits a colorful and vibrant depiction of a traditional ham adjacent to a banner with the word “MOM” written through the center. The tattoo itself is a comical take on the typical “MOM” tattoos popularized by sailors in 20th century America. It also doubles as a way to poke fun at her own mot

her’s terrible cooking. Growing up, Miss Weisman’s family ate ham for every major event and holiday since it was the easiest thing to prepare.

Further up on the same arm and closer to her right shoulder, sits a large, fully colored peacock that is also accompanied by a banner. This one, however, references one of her favorite Flannery O’Connor short stories. The title  “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is written through this banner, and unlike the previous tattoo, does not intend to mock anyone or thing.  For anyone who is unfamiliar with the story, it centers on a family road trip. During this trip, the selfish grandmother convinces her son, who is driving the car, to take a detour which lands them in a ditch after a nearly fatal car crash. In the end, the entire family is murdered. Beyond this story, however, Flannery O’Connor was a regular visitor and affiliate of Miss Weisman’s alma mater, Notre Dame of Maryland University. Though her intentions for getting this tattoo were solely based on her love of Flannery O’Connor’s story, it has unsolicited comments and full-blown conversations from men who cannot take a hint.

An intricate sugar skull adorns her left forearm. This tattoo, like the first one, was intended to be a matching friend tattoo, however, her friend never followed through with it. The skull itself does have a pretty cool survival scar. Some time ago, Miss Weisman had to have surgery through the center of it. The surgeon was able to piece it back together, there is a slanted line of blank skin through the center of the skeletal face, but it is nearly impossible to see if you are more than an inch away from it.

The last tattoo Miss Weisman shared with me was a large but delicate mermaid splayed across her right ankle. Though topless, the creature is concealed behind her luscious h

air and a sea urchin. She serves to commemorate a trip to Greece. The idea for her was based on the infamous myth of mermaids carrying vessels across the ocean and the fact that, while in Greece, Miss Weisman stepped on an urchin along the beach.

Anyone who spends more than five minutes with Miss Weisman knows that she is not your run-of-the-mill English teacher. But not only did this interview allow me to learn more about the story behind her tattoos, but more about the woman behind them as well.