reasons why i should be allowed to wear my kilt to school

[Riverkilt]

Do leave the sgian dubh at home....

[Jerry]

The way I see it, we are missing the point of this young man's question. It seems to me that he is trying to gather information to perhaps present an argument to the school administration, either orally or by letter as to why he should be able to wear a kilt to school. I think he needs things such as, I wear it to honor my Scottish ancestors, and evidence that other students are allowed to wear ethnic clothing. Perhaps some pictures of the kilt being worm by famous people such as Sir Sean Connery. Also, pictures of Highland athletes to show that it isn't a "girly skirt". Perhaps, ask for limited permission on a trial basis, where he would wear a kilt once to see if it did cause problems but have a pair of pants that he could change into if it is did.

[Jack Daw]

If the school has a dress code then conform to it. But, are you certain the kilt is jilted by the administration? Ask.

[Father Bill]

Why aren't you allowed to wear it? If it's public school I can't see how they could say no, but if it's catholic school, then you have to abide by the uniform rules.

Actually, I note that you (unlike the OP) live in Ontario which does have the requirement that each school have a dress code, therefore it could be in violation of the individual school's code. It wasn't really intended that way when the legislation was passed, but putting something into writing often has a way of going awry. I wonder if the OP is in a similar situation.

Retired School Principal,

[longhuntr74]

School is a place to learn. If they said "No" to the kilt. Just wear it after school is over. Get your moneys worth out of school when you can and use your non school time to make a statement by wearing the kilt.

I think this is the best advice on here. I am unsure as to the true intent/meaning of the OP's question, but making some assumptions, I'd share the following opinion and insight.

If his school has a dress code or uniform, I think he should follow it. I can think of no good reason to fight against it. The "ethnic" attire argument is about as thin as they come unless the request is tied to some particular holiday that would give it greater meaning. In such a case, I would absolutely support getting permission to wear the kilt on certain days of the year, such as National Tartan Day, etc. as a way of honoring the OPs Scottish heritage - assuming he has some - and perhaps educating some fellow students about something new and different that they haven't been exposed to. But if the request was made simply as a personal desire (freedom of expression) over an establish dress code, as an administrator, I'd say NO (even as a kiltwearer myself). The question in my mind would be: What makes the OP think that he is so special that he deserves special treatment?

I say this from a perspective of someone who is typically in the rule enforcement business and is currently in the EXACT SAME POSITION as the OP (again, going on the assumption that there is some sort of policy in place that prohibits him wearing the kilt). I am a student and my institution has a dress code that specifies business casual, which for males is further defined as no shorts, no jeans...only khaki-type or some other form of dress pants are authorized. We are also prohibited from wearing sneakers, sandals, moccasins, etc...though I have skirted the line a time or two in wearing Skechers casual shoes. On National Tartan Day, a kilt-wearing classmate and myself were going to wear our kilts (applying the beg forgiveness rule)...but some events happened about a week prior that we felt made the atmosphere somewhat hostile regarding compliance with the dress code...so we simply opted to not push the limits and draw undue attention to ourselves or our program. As a military officer, there are two lessons that I think are very important for people to learn...it's part of maturity...Know your environment (ie. how much can you get away with) and choose your battles (how important is it to you...and what are you willing to risk).

That is all!

[Father Bill]

I think this is the best advice on here. I am unsure as to the true intent/meaning of the OP's question, but making some assumptions, I'd share the following opinion and insight.

If his school has a dress code or uniform, I think he should follow it. I can think of no good reason to fight against it. The "ethnic" attire argument is about as thin as they come unless the request is tied to some particular holiday that would give it greater meaning. In such a case, I would absolutely support getting permission to wear the kilt on certain days of the year, such as National Tartan Day, etc. as a way of honoring the OPs Scottish heritage - assuming he has some - and perhaps educating some fellow students about something new and different that they haven't been exposed to. But if the request was made simply as a personal desire (freedom of expression) over an establish dress code, as an administrator, I'd say NO (even as a kiltwearer myself). The question in my mind would be: What makes the OP think that he is so special that he deserves special treatment?

I say this from a perspective of someone who is typically in the rule enforcement business and is currently in the EXACT SAME POSITION as the OP (again, going on the assumption that there is some sort of policy in place that prohibits him wearing the kilt). I am a student and my institution has a dress code that specifies business casual, which for males is further defined as no shorts, no jeans...only khaki-type or some other form of dress pants are authorized. We are also prohibited from wearing sneakers, sandals, moccasins, etc...though I have skirted the line a time or two in wearing Skechers casual shoes. On National Tartan Day, a kilt-wearing classmate and myself were going to wear our kilts (applying the beg forgiveness rule)...but some events happened about a week prior that we felt made the atmosphere someone hostile regarding compliance with the dress code...so we simply opted to not push the limits and draw undue attention to ourselves or our program. As a military officer, there are two lessons that I think are very important for people to learn...it's part of maturity...Know your environment (ie. how much can you get away with) and choose your battles (how important is it to you...and what are you willing to risk).

That is all!

Excellent, mature, and thoughtful advice. Too many people quote their "right" without thinking what would BE right in the particular circumstances.

The question of "freedom" is often very one-sided. We need to ask whether we prefer to be "free to..." more than we want to be "free from...."

Cheers!

[thescot]

I agree with the above regarding following policy. It's an item of clothing, not your freedom at stake here. There is ample time for other expressions, and there are very good reasons for some of the policies, e.g., bandanas.

But, if your goal here is to present a good argument for wearing the kilt, I would offer the following:
1. Any percieved "distractions" last about 30 seconds and do not interfere with an entire day or even an entire class. A similar "distraction" would likely ensue if you appeared wearing brightly colored madras trousers.
2. There is no danger of a kilt inciting gang related trouble as a bandana might since it is not associated with "colors."
3. A kilt is simply an item of clothing, and wearing one provides a good opportunity for students to learn something they don't know. Many interesting discussions are engendered when a fellow shows up in a kilt. A kilt is not a badge of anything disruptive or subversive.
4. Open mindedness is a virtue.
5. Self-expression--within acceptable limits--is a good thing and part of leaning to be an adult. In fact, learning how those limits work is part of growing up.
6. While limits are good and to be expected, they should also be reasonable and logicical and seek to engender a better environment for learning. Arbitrary rules don't accomplish much. (See 3 above.)

Good luck. I used to wear my kilt to school occassionally when I was teaching, and I found that the students quickly adjusted to the initial shock of a man in a kilt. The teachers were more likely to keep up a running conversation about it, especially the women.

[Chirs]

At university there was no dress code. I often wore my kilt and only once did that "cause a disturbance." The professor would not let it go; my classmates did not care.

Unfortunately any reaction to the kilt - entirely the responsibility of the one reacting - is seen as being caused by the kilt and the kilt wearer. As such, rather than asking that all people accept a certain level of personal responsibility for their own responses, we, as a culture, tend to prefer to remove all possible sources of reaction. This course of action, in my mind, tends to reinforce the ignorance that caused the initial reaction and, instead of 'fixing' the situation, merely "sweeps it under the rug."

So, assuming there is no formal regulation preventing the wearing of the kilt (i.e. a dress code), I would argue that any reactions to the kilt would be based on ignorance. By allowing the kilt, others can be exposed to it and perhaps they would learn a bit. Once the kilt is seen as more normal, there will be no reactions and everyone will have grown in their understanding of the world.

[xman]

When I was in high school there was a demure girl who turned from a little mod bob cut Beatles fan in grade ten to hardcore punk in grade eleven. During graduation a year later she arrived attired in her classic punk clothes with torn and patched jeans full of safety pins and all. The principal took one look at her and told her to go home immediately and change. When she returned she was wearing a skirt ... still full of tears with patches and safety pins and all. She was an honour student and received many awards so by then it was too late for her to go home again and it would have looked worse to deny her attendance at the ceremony.

[/off topic]

[Pyper]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...27/schools.uk1

http://fff.fathom.org/forums/showthread.php?t=539

There are others, but those two are interesting.