No Kilts Allowed?

[artificer]

Bah!

I'm with Nighthawk here. Schools have been forced to bend before. Last year a young lad in Canada cracked his school board with a facebook page, a little local (and international) news coverage and a big bump from sites like this.

Rules are there for a reason, but rules without circumstantial exceptions = tyranny, IMO.

Sew up his kilt, and if you do the ground work setting things up... WE'LL make sure you get enough facebook hits and letters to the school board to SHAME them into line.

[davedove]

Yeah, talk with the school, but realize that they probably weren't even thinking about kilts when the policy was written. Because this is a kilt forum, we obviously focus on kilts, but for a lot of people they are not a consideration. The policy was probably written to keep the boys from showing up in shorts, sweat pants, or who knows what else.

[Mark's Mom]

Thank you Artifacer and Nighthawk for your support. I will be making the kilt in late February, so there is time to prepare for whatever is their decision. My first step may be to discuss it with the school psychologist who oversees Mark's Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.) and is part of the district. He knows Mark well. There is a possibility that the local media may be covering Mark going to the prom because his 4 dates are wearing dresses that he is creating for them. One of the girl's Moms suggested this when we met a couple of months ago and she seems to have some connections. The media idea is sounding very good to me now.

[Whidbey78]

I wasn't kilted when I was in school, but did have to "argue" my way into a resaraunt once while kilted. I was trying to reason with the host, and while this was going on they asmitted a gentleman who was also violating their dress code, but was told it was an exception as "ethnic clothing." I had to resort to the "discrimination lawsuits are bad publicity for a business" route. I got to keep our reservations and I had one very tasty steak!

I think you are going about this the right way and I'm sure many here will back you as much as possible and practicable, myself included. Preparing a presentation of sorts is a good idea, and having examples of tasteful and well executed traditional highland dress will certainly help. I think photos of well known and respected celebrities will be very beneficial...Sean Connery, Prince Charles, etc.

I'm glad you're taking the time to prepare for a bit of a fight to make this happen, but have you actually contacted the administration yet? Simply asking a question they've never been asked may open the doors without any "bloodshed." I'm hoping it does.

[AFS1970]

I too would be interested in reading the potentially kilt banning language. That coupled with any individual choices that might have violated that rule but were allowed could also be helpful. We all know that a Dashiki would probably not be banned, however until one is allowed in that point is largely irrelevant and bringing it up may paint you as racist in the eyes of the diversity minded officials you are trying to persuade.

You said his 4 dates? Did I read this correctly? I only ask because i have some experience in that being banned at a prom. In high school (many years ago at this point) three of us asked the same girl to the prom. We were all friends who hung out together. Her answer was to say yes to all of us and go with all three of us. The school told her in no uncertain terms that she was allowed only a single date and that such plans were simply not allowed. At the time there were no written rules to that effect. None of us ended up going to the prom that year.

I am also frequently on the side of better to ask forgiveness than permission, but in the case of a high school student, I would hate to see that work against him in that unlike some events proms generally have gate keepers who will deny entry at will. I would not want to see what should be an enjoyable night end poorly for your son. Good luck with your efforts.

[Mark's Mom]

This link goes to the prom dress code for 2010. I don't think the 2011 contract has been released yet.
http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/schools/m...oncontract.pdf

Again, I have not approached the school yet, but I want to be fully prepared before I do.

[Biathlonman]

Hi Mark's Mom - This problem has real drama - and you've been given terrific advice by folks who've evidently thought hard about what to tell you.

Somehow I wonder if BRAVEHEART is shown on TV just a few days before the prom if this problem might disappear.

If you do meet with school administrators, and they continue to insist your son not wear a kilt, would you consider enlisting some sympathetic reporter to show up on Prom Night and tell your son to wear his kilt anyway?

Few people with any career ambitions will persist in a wrong-headed approach with the media looking on.

Regardless, we all sure want to know how this turns out. Good luck.

[McNulty]

Hey Mark's Mom
Talk to the admin folks now. Prom is still a couple of months off and you have time to gather your forces prior to talking with those folks. They usually listen to parents and especially parents who present a logical and forthright position. I teach high school English out here in Colorado and this year will be my fourth Prom kilted. Still can't get any of the students to go kilted but we will have another teacher kilted at the Prom.
If all else fails, talk to your local school board.

Prom 2010


McNulty

[MacSaorsa]

I agree with Dave, the policy was probably written to address something else and was written vaguely so there wouldn't be any loopholes. Unfortunately the Law of Unintended Consequences reared its ugly head.

I also concur with the pre-prom discussion idea. Have a meeting with the principal, show him/her some photos of outfits similar to what your son would be wearing, and ask if that would be acceptable. If the answer is no, pull out the big guns (not literally). Show this photo of HRH The Duke of Rothesay (more commonly known as Prince Charles) and ask if he would be turned away because of his attire:

[Nighthawk]

Bah!

I'm with Nighthawk here. Schools have been forced to bend before. Last year a young lad in Canada cracked his school board with a facebook page, a little local (and international) news coverage and a big bump from sites like this.

Rules are there for a reason, but rules without circumstantial exceptions = tyranny, IMO.

Sew up his kilt, and if you do the ground work setting things up... WE'LL make sure you get enough facebook hits and letters to the school board to SHAME them into line.

This is why we here at X Marks are my real clan. I will be fast to sign up to any FaceBook made for this! Heck, friend me on FaceBook anyway if you have an account! Look for Travis Butterworth or Colorado Celtic Weddings. There are some great pics of Highland formalwear on my FB page. Here are 2 from a recent wedding Denver wedding:



No I'm not short. The groom is over 7 feet tall!!



As always, I hope this helpful!