They backed themselves into a corner by couching the issue as cultural rather than an equal-rights issue.

A loin-cloth might be cultural attire, but entirely inappropriate in a school setting. Ultimately, the school administrators get to decide those issues.

However, they can't let one group of students wear loin-cloths and not allow another group to wear the same or a similar garment. That's descrimination and it can be legally challenged.

By couching the issue as cultural, they really had no basis for a lawsuit. The school made nice for a while until the publicity died down. Case closed.

I can remember boys being sent home from school and men being sent home from work due to their "unkempt" appearance -- their hair was longer than the tops of their ears. I'm sure some of you older guys remember "crew-cuts". We know that it wasn't about guys looking "unkempt". It was about guys looking like girls, with all the cultural baggage around perceptions of masculinity.

That, in my opinion, is at the heart of the issue of men wearing kilts in general and specifically boys and men wearing kilts to school or at work.

So, while we might disagree on style, the principal of fair treatment should be the higher priority.

As much as it sucks to be discriminated against, it's totally understandable to be in denial about it and treat the problem as if it's something else. In fact, sometimes that's the smart thing to do. Other times, it's not.