Update on Nathan Warmak

[Sherry]

Regardless of how this episode turns out, I hope Nathan attends every one of his class reunions--kilted, of course. :-D

Sherry

[GlassMan]

I think its turned into a much wider issue, and to be honest I dont know much about US law (other than people seem to revel in sueing each other) but as the college principal I would expect principal McClard is well within in rights to impose any dress code he sees fit during school time (IE a uniform) outside of that, (but on school premises) I think he still is entitled to some kind of veto as what people wear, I know people are upset simply becasue it involves the kilt and Scots heritage etc, But as the principal he is entitled to impose terms and conditions of dress on events that happen in school time or on school property, Are we going to have a situation where every time someone disagrees with a school principal- then they get sued or someone calls the local paper or starts an internet petition. As for people having the right to do this or wear that, thats rubbish, an organiser of an event can impose a dress code as condition of entry, if you dont like it dont attend. I hope principal McClard has changed his mind and allows Nathan to wear the Kilt with proper accesories, and I hope hes changed his mind becasue of reasoned argument and logic and not mob rule.

I would be interested to know if anyone approached Principal McClard in advance to let him know that Nathan would be wearing the kilt, I can hear people now screaming "but why should he -he has the RIGHT to wear his kilt!" maybe he does maybe he doesnt, but purely out of courtesy.

The thing is that now, because of the use of clothing as a way to symbolize gang membership or even ways of displaying sexual desire, most school systems in the US have established written dress codes and taken much of the power out of the principal's hands. The principal's job has become to enforce a legal document, not make up the rules on the fly. If Nathan's kilt was not listed as prohibited in the dress code then the principal should not have told him it was prohibited. That's why the Warmack's drive to specifically address kilts in the dress code is so important. Because the US is such a litigious society, schools have created legal guidelines for these matters. The principal has lost much of his/her power to those documents.

[elijah]

There's been some new developments in the story. I've got more on it at my blog as well as a link to a post that deals with the law on this:

Oops, wrong URL before. I fixed it now.
http://www.adamsweb.us/blog/index.ph...ssouri_kilt_co

The prior URL was a devotional I posted. THIS is the update on the kilt story, sorry for everyone who got misdirected.

[KiltedHuntsman]

The thing is that now, because of the use of clothing as a way to symbolize gang membership or even ways of displaying sexual desire, most school systems in the US have established written dress codes and taken much of the power out of the principal's hands.

Heh. Mebbe we'll see school gangs adopting kilts in certain tartans as gang identification. It will be Clan Wars all over again!

[Rigged]

I can remember similar hub-bub when girls wanted to wear pants to school instead of skirts and dresses.

School boards fought and lost and eventually had to loosen dress codes to allow for the social changes that were happening.

Workplaces also had to change their dress codes and put in rules to protect employees' rights to wear a broader range of clothing.

I guess there aren't enough of us kilted guys to be considered a social movement yet. Still, it's a hopeful sign that this principle has reversed himself in this one case.

I'm hoping the school's officials will see this issue in its broader context and allow a wider range of clothing choices for boys.

I can understand why the matter is being couched as a cultural issue. It's the easiest and most obvious argument a guy can make to justify wearing something other than trousers. In Nathan's case, the cultural issue is the main issue.

In the end though, it could mean that for guys to wear something other than trousers, they'll have to demonstrate a direct cultural connection to that article of clothing.

No black guys in tartan kilts. No white guys in Utilikilts. No white guys in Dashikis, for that matter.

My guess is that at that school, somewhere in some dusty tome, is a gender-neutral dress code that allows females a broad range of clothing choices. That code probably also allows the same choices for boys, but it's never been tested or challenged.

Maybe I missed something, but I don't recall anyone stating what the school's actual dress code is.

[Riverkilt]

Hey Rigged,

I'm one of those lily White guys that worked for civil rights down south in the 60's - an adventure for sure, and still not likely to endure me to many in my home town of Selma, Alabama...

A couple years ago I bought a beautiful dashiki at a Black Culture Festival in Phoenix...hopefully a symbol of unity when I wear it.

Have pondered how to make it work with a kilt. Because its so long, doesn't leave much kilt to show out from under, and seems to lose its identity if tucked in. Have thought about cuting it up the center so it can hang open like a flowing robe, but then its not a dashiki anymore.

Just wondering if you've thought about, or been able to figure a way, for the dashiki to work with a kilt...never mind the crazy old White hippie trying to do it...can it be done tastefully...without giggles or guffaws?

Ron
(Sorry if this is off topic...but its 30 pages back there somewhere...what is the topic??)

[Iolaus]

I think, with all the "gang affiliation" problems with clothing, that school uniforms are going to come back, eventually, and all these questions will be moot, at least as far as pre-college goes.

[highlander_Daz]

In the UK the rules regarding Uniforms in schools has relaxed over the last decade, however so has discipline, head teachers are now bringing back uniforms to schools where discipline has broken down and in most cases discipline improves with the reintroduction of the uniform, young people are told that while they wear the uniform they are ambassedors for the school, and this prevents things like designer training shoes and other "status symbols" being brought on school premises. the number one thing that schools need is disciple, I know people have "rights" but they can only come when people realise thye have responsibilities, and Im not sure that crucifying the principal and haveing knee jerk reactions to his decisions will do this schools image or levels of discipline much good, its first and foremost a centre for learning not a fashion parade. As far as Im concerned the principals decision is final, right or wrong. I this case he was wrong but like I said I would not have attended this event if the kilt wasnt allowed and asked the principal to change the rules through reasoned debate and logic, if he wouldnt change his mind then the referees decision is final im afraid. I hate to think that this situation is affecting the education of these young people.

[Jerry]

They had a similar issue on clothing at a middle school near me, In that case it concerned an "Alabama" tee shirt. (The country music group, not the state). Because the shirt had a confederate battle flag on it, the student was asked to leave, and go change his shirt. At the time, the Malcoml X movie was out and a lot of black students and some white ones were wearing Malcolm X tee shirts. While I don't really think a shirt with a confederate battle flag was exactly appropiate in school with people of all races and cultures, I didn't think the others were appropiate for the same reasons. In this case the student changed his shirt and ir didn't become a big issue. I can see why the student was asked to change in this case. The flag, through some misunderstanding of it's meaning to most southerners, is offensive to some, and is justly inappropiate for wear in school.

[motorman4life]

A southeast Missouri student who was told to change out of his kilt at a high school dance can wear the garment to future school functions, a lawyer for the district said.

"He can wear that kilt to school if he wants, to the prom, to a basketball game," Jackson school district lawyer Steve Wright said Friday.

But Wright cited one exception. Though he said it's not anticipated, student Nathan Warmack could be asked to change if the kilt-wearing somehow resulted in a problem or disruption.

This goes back to what I had said previously, if other students want to inappropriately cause a disruption because another student chooses to wear appropriate clothing in a mature and respecful way, those students creating the problem need to be dealt with, not the one exercising his/her freedom.

If a student is getting ridiculed by other students for wearing glasses are you going to make him take his glasses off? If a disruption is caused by students reacting inappropriately, those students are the problem. The Principal's choice to censure Adam (and violate his rights) was an expedient way of dealing with what he perceived might be a discipline problem. It shows little faith in his students and a lack of confidence in his ability to reasonably maintain order at the dance.