Nguyen Nu Kieu Vinh, a high school teacher of English in Phu Tho province, has become famous in recent days because the story has been spreading on social networks.

An excellent teacher who has received many awards for her achievements in the last 23 years, Vinh, who is beloved by students, has suddenly become the target of criticism just because of the tattoo on her foot.

Vinh still doesn’t know who denounced her to the school’s board of management. But she said she does not believe her students would do this. 

“I think some parents saw my tattoo and sent an anonymous letter to the board of management,” she said.

The school’s board of management organized a meeting with the heads of the school’s divisions. After that, the head of the team of English teachers told Vinh to get rid of  the tattoo.

Vinh, in reply, stated on her Facebook page that she will not erase the image and that only her father has the right to tell her to what to do with the image.

The teacher, in an interview given to Dan Viet, said that she loves the art of tattooing and she does not think tattoo images would affect her teaching job.

“A small tattoo on a foot cannot say who the owner is,” she said.

She has open thinking about tattoos because she spent many years studying abroad. Meanwhile, Vietnamese believe that tattoo fits only the gypsy and they are not sympathetic. 

The teacher’s reaction has caused debate on education forums. While older people tended to criticize the teacher, young people were more inclined to side with her.

A university lecturer who studied in the US some years ago commented that personal hobbies should be respected instead of being criticized. 

The lecturer once had a teacher with punk and tattoo on an arm, who usually went to lecturer halls in jeans and sat on the table during lecture hours. 

Another teacher always went to class in suits and ties. However, the lecturer liked both teachers because of their interesting lessons.

“Punk and tattoos are parts of personal life,” he said. “Let’s respect other opinions and hobbies. Clothing does not make the monk.”

Thanh Lich