What in the wide world of sports were the members of the Joplin R-8 Board of Education — not to mention new superintendent C.J. Huff — thinking this week when they decided to deal decisively with the scourge of visible tattoos on teachers.

That’s right, Joplin R-8 parents, sound the alarm ... apparently there are teachers in Joplin’s classrooms sportin’ ink.

Just imagine ... while your hard-working students are attempting to memorize the 50 state capitals or learn how to dissect a toad, some unprofessional teacher, lunch lady, bus driver or janitor may be distracting them from their studies.

Shameful.

Imagine the distraction that a Tweety bird tattoo emblazoned on an exposed ankle, or maybe how a giant “MOM” inked on a bare forearm could distract little Johnny or Janie from their learning. Thank heavens the board decided to act before Joplin test scores plummeted, morals and MAP scores decayed and anarchy erupted.

Thanks, R-8.

On Wednesday, the Globe published a story detailing action taken by district officials changing the policy regarding visible tattoos on the educators and staff. The news of the board’s action dumbfounded many of the Globe’s online users — and me, too, if you couldn’t tell. Here is some of the exchange from the story-comments section at joplinglobe.com.

“I am not a resident of Joplin, or Missouri for that matter. I am currently working on my second bachelor’s degree in education and will be teaching grade school in about a year. I have done practicums and observations in both private and public schools and never have I had any problem with my having tattoos. This is a freedom-of-choice issue. The issue, maybe, should be what the tattoos are about. Just like our clothing. We can’t wear something that is offensive, so then don’t have visible offensive tattoos! Is the curriculum, classroom management, No Child Left Behind testing, making sure the students learn at whatever cost and the effectiveness of teachers all in perfect order? I don’t think any school anywhere has it all together, and I don’t think tattoos are at the root of those issues!”

— Lindsay

‘Curbing freedoms’

The majority of readers who left their thoughts in our comments section suggested the school district’s leaders should be worrying about how to leave no child behind and not something as trivial as tattoos.

“My child does not go to Joplin schools, but I do know that my son has had one teacher that I know of that had a tattoo on the top of her foot. It did not seem to bother any of the children. He was taught very well. I don’t think that it should matter just as long as our children get a good education. There are more important things to worry about than a tattoo.”

— Does It Matter

“If the board has so much time to deal with teachers and their tattoos, then why don’t they go in to the high school and attempt to deal with all the students with tattoos, baggy pants, piercing, underwear hanging out, brightly colored hair, cleavage ... the list goes on. Why doesn’t the board back the principals up when they suspend a student for dress-code violations? I work in the district and I know there are more things to worry about besides teachers that have tattoos.”

— unreal

“And we wonder why our public schools no longer provide an education — instead, they appear to be stuck in the minutiae of curbing freedoms. Administrators must be frustrated cops.”

— Flippy Fischer™

“Stories like this remind people why Missouri schools consistently rank in the middle of the pack in the United States. Heaven forbid little Johnny sees a military tattoo on a (military) veteran/teacher’s forearm that served their country before dedicating their professional lives to the future of our kids. That is what we are talking about, yes? If not, are we targeting a specific group? Hmmmm ... beware, you men with bad comb-overs and women with dark upper-lip hair ... You are next!”

— Trykon

‘Common sense, modesty’

A few readers sided with the R-8 board decision and let their distaste for tats be known.

“Hip, hip hooray for the Joplin R-8 Board of Education for taking action on this problem. I, for one, think teachers and any other people in public jobs should dress and act like professionals. I’m tired of seeing tattoos and piercing in all areas of people’s bodies. I wish other schools would adopt this policy.”

— gdc

“It seems to me that most first tattoos are placed on the body after a new-found love, out of rebellion to parents or society, or while under the influence of drugs/alcohol/friends. None of these are ideas parents want paraded in front of their kids ... at any age. So while these can be costly to remove or perhaps enjoyable art for their owner, not everyone agrees and the artwork should be kept out of sight. Look, we are not asking people to look like each other, just show some respect to those kids you are teaching and to their parents.”

— Parent’s eyes

“The problem here is, if it is allowed, what is reasonable and what isn’t? How much tattooing and what kind of images would be allowed if they do approve of it? There has to be some guidelines somewhere, because not everyone has common sense and modesty about what they have inked on their bodies.”

— JustMe1951

“Tattoos = trash.”

— Bob

‘You might be next!’

“What does this have to do with the education process? Will covering the tattoos make the students learn any better? And what if a substitute teacher was a child of the Holocaust? Will he/she have to cover her tattoo? The superintendent should not have even asked the board to consider this.

— Wow, unbelievable

Dave Woods is new media editor for The Joplin Globe.