Every inch of her skin is covered in tattoos.
The palms of her hands, her face, her private parts… Even in the whites of her eyes.
A black look considered "scary" by several parents.
Because Sylvain, 35, alias Freaky Hoody in the tattoo industry, is a teacher.
He makes replacements in the district of Palaiseau, in Essonne.
Last week, he took charge of a class at Paul-Langevin Elementary School.
Marie's children (her first name was changed at her request), were afraid of the appearance of the one who is considered the most tattooed man in France.
“They weren't in that institute's class but they told me:
It's weird, it's scary, it's scary.
They spoke to me more about her look than about their own mistress!
I myself was impressed when I saw it.
"
"I am very surprised that the National Education lets do that"
According to this mother, Sylvain should not be faced with such young children.
“I find that inappropriate.
For CPs or CE1s, it's like he's dressed up for Halloween.
I am very surprised that the National Education lets do that.
Ten years ago, we refused entry to students who arrived at school with blue hair… ”
Palaiseau, Thursday, September 17.
Out of classes at the Paul-Langevin school group, where Sylvain, alias Freakyhoody, taught last week.
LP / Romain Chiron
A clear opinion which is not, however, shared by all.
Blandine already knew Sylvain from having seen him in a television report.
"If he's a good teacher, that doesn't change anything for me," relativizes this mother.
His tattoos on his face are like skin color, that shouldn't be a problem.
And then he doesn't try to show them off.
"
"I have the right to tattoo myself, it's my body, I do what I want with it"
According to a teacher from Ile-de-France, there is no text on how to dress in class.
"The only instruction is not to have ostentatious religious symbols," he says.
In the law "for a school of confidence" of July 2019, article 1 invokes "the exemplary nature of the staff of the National Education".
"This article provoked a debate but nothing is specified on what is behind the word exemplarity", decrypts Patrice Allio, co-secretary of Snes Essonne, union of middle school and high school teachers.
And what does the main interested party think?
“I prefer people to talk about my qualities as a teacher than my appearance,” explains Sylvain.
I have the right to tattoo myself, it's my body, I do what I want with it.
And I don't think it bothers others much.
"
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Sylvain recognizes that his appearance surprises children but he refuses to discuss it with them during school hours, only at recess.
LP / RC
A passion that comes at a cost: nearly 50,000: this is the budget spent by Sylvain since his first tattoo at the age of 27.
A passion born during his stay in London, where he taught for two years at Dulwich college.
The fact that the English are comfortable with their appearance was a trigger for him.
He started getting tattooed on both arms, chest, legs ...
He does not intend to stop there ...
The project of this 35-year-old teacher?
"Become all black at 80", he slips with aplomb but not without a touch of provocation.
Since it is already tattooed from head to toe, future tattoos will only cover the existing ones.
If he was able to save money for his consuming passion by living with his mother until he was 33, the teacher now owns his apartment.
“For budget reasons, I think I get a tattoo about once every two months,” he says.
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He recognizes, however, that when he walks through the doors of a school, "there is at first an effect of surprise and astonishment among parents and children".
"But I never hear them say:
You're a monster or it's horrible
...", he adds.
In class, he refuses to discuss his appearance with his students.
“I'm here to teach.
If the children ask me:
Why do you have black eyes?
I tell them we can talk about it at recess.
"
"Two or three schools don't want me anymore"
His fully tattooed body, however, creates tensions.
In the first quarter of 2019, a kindergarten child was frightened by passing him in the hallways.
"His parents wrote a letter to the inspection, with photos of me in which I pose naked as a model," recalls the teacher.
I was sidelined for seven weeks.
It was a period that hurt me.
Then a compromise was found so that I no longer do replacements in kindergarten but only in primary.
Today, I know that two or three schools no longer want me.
"
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Not to discourage him so far.
“I've been practicing for twelve years.
I do this job by vocation.
“Contacted on the subject, the academic inspectorate of Versailles did not respond to our requests.
"The National Education ensures that there is a neutrality in appearances"
DR
The physical and clothing appearance of teachers has often been the subject of debate over the years.
Lighting with Claude Lelièvre, 79, author of twenty books on the history of education in France.
What were the clothing restrictions in the history of education?
Claude Lelièvre.
Under Napoleon, teachers had to wear a black robe.
This distinctive sign referred teachers to the special role they had to play in society.
In 1800, the First Consul conferred the ban on trousers for women, because they were worn by revolutionaries.
If there has never been a compulsory uniform, except in certain upper secondary schools, they were advised to wear a suit with a black dress, a fitted collar and a bun in the hair.
And this throughout the Third Republic
(Editor's note: 1870-1940).
They should not be suspected morally, women could not appear frivolous.
Until the 1960s, high school girls could not wear pants unless they put a pleated skirt over them.
But the skirt and the suit were also frowned upon.
Have the physical appearances of institutes and professors already been debated?
Under the Second Empire, the mustache and beard were banned for political reasons.
Because deemed republican!
Napoleon III had a mustache, it is true, but thin.
The subversive mustaches were those that were not worked at the Hercule Poirot.
In the 1970s, long hair, especially worn by young teachers, appeared as a sign of protest.
As there was a strong need for recruitment, it was impossible to do without them.
But it created tensions at the time.
What does the recent controversy reveal about the way students dress?
National Education strives to impose a kind of neutrality in appearances, so that they are not a source of distraction.
It is the foundation of the school as an institution.
But when Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer says that it is enough to dress normally, that does not mean everything and nothing.
If we follow this idea, the students would put on a uniform.
Otherwise, it would take texts and texts to define what is normal.
