School in a Kilt

[liammaclean]

Hello, I am a high schooler with a proud sense of Scottish pride. I thus naturally want to wear a kilt to school. How advisable is this? In addition, will I be able to move freely enough to run around and play sports in a kilt? Thank you in advance.

[Domehead]

Good afternoon,
My son, aged 8, goes to school in an urban district, multi-ethnic student body with homogeneous dress sensibilities. He wears his kilt to school infrequently, but periodically.

He does so on non Phys-Ed days of inclement weather. As for response, it's a mixed bag: the usual nonsense and educated curiosity. However, after a few wearings, he's now percieved no differently than other ethnicities in cultural dress.

As for sports, on the rare occasion he goes out for recess, he puts his sporran and garters in his desk, pushes his hose down and plays with every other kid. Our rules are no playground slides and no tackle football. Euro Footy, Baseball (no sliding), Dodgeball, Tag, Rock Wall, Swings, Bars, Bridges are all "in play".

Hope this helps & Good Luck

Slainte,
Domehead

[Guinness>water]

I think that is awesome that you want to wear your kilt to school.

I wore one once, it was for extra credit. The teacher asked us to represent our culture on a certain day. It went well, everybody loved it, especially the girls .

Be ready for some heckeling though. You should have a lot of self confidence if your going to do it.

As stated above, I dont think I would wear it on PE days though. Squat thrusts in a kilt might end up being an anatomy class too !

[sydnie7]

Athletes, dancers and others who could normally expect "exposure" during their normal activities typically wear something under their kilt (aside from the kilt hose and socks. . .). Just common sense.

[O'Searcaigh]

Hello, I am a high schooler with a proud sense of Scottish pride. I thus naturally want to wear a kilt to school. How advisable is this? In addition, will I be able to move freely enough to run around and play sports in a kilt? Thank you in advance.

Hello Liam. "Advisable" would depend on a lot of things, not the least of which is whether your school has some sort of "dress code" that might make it problematic. If not, then definitely -- go for it. There shouldn't be any reason not to be able to "move freely," or "play sports," in a kilt. Quite the contrary. After all, look at all the things our highland athletes do in a kilt. In my day, however, we all had to wear the same kind of "gym clothes" for formal P.E. classes -- the only time (other than band, team sports) where everyone was dressed the same ("uniform"). As already mentioned by others, just be sure not to go "regimental" anytime there might be a possibility of being "exposed" (which in high school is pretty much all the time). By all means, show your Scottish pride in a way that would make your Scottish ancestors proud.

[Nathan]

Some years ago, I read a story in the Scotsman about a student in the Southern US being suspended for wearing his kilt to prom. I wore my kilt to prom and it went over really well but then again, I grew up in a predominantly Scottish community.

It really depends on the dress code of your particular school and the views of your principal. I'd check the guidelines to see if trousers for male students is explicitly specified and act accordingly. If it would contravene the established dress code and you decided you wanted to make it a civil/ethnic rights issue and wear it anyway, I'd make sure you have the full support of your parents first.

[usonian]

You'll probably want to check and see if your school and district have any sort of official dress code, and whether you'd run afoul of it by wearing a kilt. (High school administrators love enforcing their petty rules. When I was in high school there was a moral panic about Bart Simpson t-shirts. As ridiculous as it sounds, wearing one could get you sent home or suspended.)

Apart from that... wearing a kilt will make you stand out. If you're wearing it with self-confidence and pride that will show, and standing out can be a good thing - but of course there will always be those idiots who take it upon themselves to single out non-comformity and heckle you with stupid jokes/comments. Keep a thick skin, pay them no mind and they'll usually give it up when they fail to get a rise out of you.

[masonpiper]

First all of the Advice above is spot on, as a High school Teacher and ex vice principal, let me add some things. The 2 reasons you might get in trouble are officially:
1: Dress Code Violation.
2: Disruption of the educational process or something similar.

Heed the above advice to see if you will be a dress code problem. Here is the student part of my district's dress code policy, emphasis mine.
3.1. Dress and Grooming standards:
3.1.1. The attire (apparel) and grooming of all students should be neat, clean and safe.
3.1.2. Students have the responsibility to avoid apparel that causes a distraction or disruption, interrupting school decorum and adversely affecting the educational process. Students must also avoid apparel that is offensive, represents a risk, or threatens student safety.
3.1.2.1. Printed apparel is acceptable only if it is in good taste. Any apparel displaying profanity, suggestive slogans, pictures or graphics, or promoting substances illegal for consumption by a minor, will not be allowed.
3.1.2.2. Clothes that are mutilated or immodest are not appropriate school wear. Dresses, shorts, skirts, shirts, and blouses should be modest in length and not revealing. (Tank tops, tube tops and garments that reveal undergarments may be considered revealing).
3.1.2.3. Hats are not to be worn in school buildings during regular school hours.
3.1.2.4. Any apparel approved for school wear should be worn in accompaniment with appropriate undergarments.
3.1.2.5. Footwear must be worn and should be safe and hygienic. Shoes, boots and sandals are considered suitable footwear.
3.1.2.6. Clothing attachments or accessories which could be considered weapons are not allowed.

As you can see a kilt should be okay as far as the dress code, but section 3.1.2 is the one that will get you. If a bunch of students start giggling or hoot’n and hollr’n about the kilt an administrator can make the call the you are disrupting school and forbid the kilt etc. If there is a bit of “Dude, WOW, cool, and other statements that drop off, a good administrator will drop it. My advice is to tell your friends you are going to wear one and go early so y’all can meet in the parking lot or wherever, and get the novelty over with. After that, just go to school and be you, stand a little straighter, walk a bit more confident, and enjoy your day
Good luck

[creagdhubh]

First all of the Advice above is spot on, as a High school Teacher and ex vice principal, let me add some things. The 2 reasons you might get in trouble are officially:
1: Dress Code Violation.
2: Disruption of the educational process or something similar.

Heed the above advice to see if you will be a dress code problem. Here is the student part of my district's dress code policy, emphasis mine.
3.1. Dress and Grooming standards:
3.1.1. The attire (apparel) and grooming of all students should be neat, clean and safe.
3.1.2. Students have the responsibility to avoid apparel that causes a distraction or disruption, interrupting school decorum and adversely affecting the educational process. Students must also avoid apparel that is offensive, represents a risk, or threatens student safety.
3.1.2.1. Printed apparel is acceptable only if it is in good taste. Any apparel displaying profanity, suggestive slogans, pictures or graphics, or promoting substances illegal for consumption by a minor, will not be allowed.
3.1.2.2. Clothes that are mutilated or immodest are not appropriate school wear. Dresses, shorts, skirts, shirts, and blouses should be modest in length and not revealing. (Tank tops, tube tops and garments that reveal undergarments may be considered revealing).
3.1.2.3. Hats are not to be worn in school buildings during regular school hours.
3.1.2.4. Any apparel approved for school wear should be worn in accompaniment with appropriate undergarments.
3.1.2.5. Footwear must be worn and should be safe and hygienic. Shoes, boots and sandals are considered suitable footwear.
3.1.2.6. Clothing attachments or accessories which could be considered weapons are not allowed.

As you can see a kilt should be okay as far as the dress code, but section 3.1.2 is the one that will get you. If a bunch of students start giggling or hoot’n and hollr’n about the kilt an administrator can make the call the you are disrupting school and forbid the kilt etc. If there is a bit of “Dude, WOW, cool, and other statements that drop off, a good administrator will drop it. My advice is to tell your friends you are going to wear one and go early so y’all can meet in the parking lot or wherever, and get the novelty over with. After that, just go to school and be you, stand a little straighter, walk a bit more confident, and enjoy your day
Good luck

Good information and advice here. The only time I wore my kilt to school was at my Senior Prom, yet I had to obtain permission from the school administrators well before hand. I sat down with them all and described precisely what I was planning to wear from head to toe. Naturally, the sgian dubh was left at home.

Best of luck!

[Nathan]

Good information and advice here. The only time I wore my kilt to school was at my Senior Prom, yet I had to obtain permission from the school administrators well before hand. I sat down with them all and described precisely what I was planning to wear from head to toe. Naturally, the sgian dubh was left at home.

Best of luck!

I wore my sgian dubh to prom.

I've worn it to a political convention to dinners with dignitaries, to university classes, to my office, walking down the street and in shopping malls and I have never been bothered by anyone about it. I suppose it's inevitable that I will someday but so far so good...

Warning: Please don't let the discussion degenerate into comments about local knife carry laws or the thread will be in contravention of the rules. Just thought I'd share my experience based on Kyle's comment. Also, I'd strongly urge the OP not to wear it to school.