IL school board tells student: No Kilt at Prom.

[Bugbear]

"we are encouraging men to dress like men"

Living in Scotland, I find the above VERY INSULTING!

Chris.

It certainly is a loaded statement, however, I'm not sure I should necessarily think the person making it fully understood or considered it's fallacies and implications. It would trouble me, though, if statements like this were left unquestioned.

After all, one size fits all doesn't always fit so well, and the kilt is a perfect example.

[madmacs]

Story corrected by the editor

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-like-man.html

[O'Callaghan]

It came out at the meeting that another student wore a kilt to the school's prom in 2004, and that another wore one to the school's homecoming dance. The principal said if that happened, the garments had not been 'approved' by school officials.

So again I stand by my proposition that it’s better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

In this situation that's only true as long as you have something else on hand to change into, should it all turn pear-shaped, as they say.

[MacGumerait]

The school did the right thing -- they established one set of rules for everybody; no kilts, no dashikis, no kimonos, no buckskins and feathered head dresses. The idea is that the prom is a formal dance, not a costume party, something it would quickly turn into if everyone had the option of dressing in "ethnic" attire.

I understand your point sir , however , here is another point to ponder .

What if the young man had decided to wear something on the order of certain Scottish regimental officers formal dress ?

That is to say , what if he decided to wear tartan trews ( pants , family tartan ) , white shirt and black tie , proper jacket and a fly plaid ( family tartan ) .

I would wager that no one at the school would refuse it or question it . However , wouldn't this too be ethnic ? The only difference would be a kilt versus trews .

It would appear that the school's problem is in the area of not understanding the kilt rather than a problem with ethnic issues .

I wonder what the school board's decision would be if the Royal Family had been asked to attend this event for some special reason and the males of the Royal Family arrived wearing kilts , which they do for some occasions .

Would they too be considered as too ethnic or " not dressing as men " or denied ? Just saying . Or perhaps would the request of asking the Royal Family to attend be considered as too ethnic ? Not trying to be over the top here , just asking to step back for a moment and put our " common sense " caps on .

There is a line between too much political correctness and common sense .

[gordontaos]

The administrations want all kids to be drones and not make problems by "sticking out". In 1970, at my senior prom, there was an uproar when two girls came as a couple. They were quickly hustled out and taken home to their parents. OMG. The poop flew for a while. Now, at the reunions, no one talks about it. I agree, though, it's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. Hell, You only get one senior prom. Have fun.

I'm with you and Zardoz. IF I had a kilt at the time of my graduation in 1970 you can be certain that I would have worn it to my Prom, WITHOUT asking permission.

[PEEDYC]

Just a suggestion but why not invite the School Board to attend a Highland Games and advise those taking part in the heavy games to dress more manly. I would love to see this.

[Jock Scot]

Just a suggestion but why not invite the School Board to attend a Highland Games and advise those taking part in the heavy games to dress more manly. I would love to see this.

Well done, The Royals!

[Mark Stephenson]

Re "encouraging men to dress like men": What's next - requiring the male students to have short hair? I have some problems with the school board's position. This is a public school, right? Then there are limits to their ability to set whatever arbitrary rules please their fancy. Don't get me wrong, as a retired military officer and the son and grandson of retired military, I have a great appreciation for rules, customs, and courtesies. However, it seems to me a student should not have to forfeit fundamental civil rights to attend a school dance.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I understand your point sir , however , here is another point to ponder .

What if the young man had decided to wear something on the order of certain Scottish regimental officers formal dress ?

That is to say , what if he decided to wear tartan trews ( pants , family tartan ) , white shirt and black tie , proper jacket and a fly plaid ( family tartan ) .

I would wager that no one at the school would refuse it or question it . However , wouldn't this too be ethnic ? The only difference would be a kilt versus trews .

I would think that trews and a dinner jacket-- something regularly seen in Scotland-- would probably attract no undue comment. Adding a fly plaid, something that one hardly ever sees worn with a kilt in Scotland, and never with trews, would tend to make the outfit look comical, rather than formal.

It would appear that the school's problem is in the area of not understanding the kilt rather than a problem with ethnic issues .

I wonder what the school board's decision would be if the Royal Family had been asked to attend this event for some special reason and the males of the Royal Family arrived wearing kilts , which they do for some occasions .

Would they too be considered as too ethnic or " not dressing as men " or denied ? Just saying . Or perhaps would the request of asking the Royal Family to attend be considered as too ethnic ? Not trying to be over the top here , just asking to step back for a moment and put our " common sense " caps on .

There is a line between too much political correctness and common sense .

Having recently hosted a member of the royal family at the Greenville Scottish Games I think I am on firm ground when I suggest that the Royals do not wear kilts outside of Scotland, even when attending Highland games, much less if invited to a senior prom.

I don't see the school as having a problem with ethnic issues, rather I see them having to cope with a diverse group of young people who may, or more than likely may not, have a clue about proper dress, formal or otherwise. By enforcing a standard of attire to be worn at at formal event, they are in effect teaching the students how to dress when the invitation says "black tie". That this means the students have less latitude in what is acceptable to wear to the prom is a good thing across the boards. It teaches them to respect the wishes of their hosts, as well as teaching them what to wear to a formal event.

If the school board were trying to embrace political correctness, or promote ethnic diversity, then the invitation to the prom would have said, black tie or national costume. But it doesn't, and so all "options" are off the table (and off dance floor).

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Re "encouraging men to dress like men": What's next - requiring the male students to have short hair? I have some problems with the school board's position. This is a public school, right? Then there are limits to their ability to set whatever arbitrary rules please their fancy. Don't get me wrong, as a retired military officer and the son and grandson of retired military, I have a great appreciation for rules, customs, and courtesies. However, it seems to me a student should not have to forfeit fundamental civil rights to attend a school dance.

Since publicly funded schools have all sort of "arbitrary rules" -- such as the right to expel students, deprive them of the right to take part in intramural sports, and detain them after school-- I would think that by extension publicly funded schools have established the right to set reasonable rules considering attire for specific events; ie: students who wish to be members of the school basketball team will wear the school basketball team uniform, etc. I do not see where requiring all students to adhere to the same set of rules is an abridgement of any fundamental civil right, any more than requiring all persons seeking to obtain a driving license to have a full face photo is an abridgement of a fundamental civil right.

Those who wish to wear golf shoes when playing basketball, or burka's when driving a car may disagree (which is their fundamental civil right). Likewise, some students may disagree with the senior prom dress code. But if they want to attend the prom, they need to comply with the rules, just like everyone else.