Another highschooler barred from prom.

[KiltedBishop]

Actually the ACLU protects the Bill of Rights, which for non-americans are the first ten amendments of the constituion. in theory the group is a good idea, however like most good idea it has been spoiled by bureacrecy. A point once made is the freedom of speech isn't there to protect the speech you like, it's to protect the speech you loathe and hate. The idea being one day your speech may be the one hated.

back on topic I think it is silly, the only thing I can of with a shorts association is they both show legs, and since showing leg for men is taken usually as casual dress they weren't thinking. I just hope someone, anyone gets at least an apology for this kids for happened to him and his date. I know on Utilikilts they had a story about the same thing and in fact an attorney who is kilted wrote the school and copied the letter to several congressmen, Trent Lott is the only one I can think of, who wear kilts on national tartan day.
http://www.utilikilts.com/prom.htm

[Galant]

So, are people calling then?

I'd be up for it.

[Rigged]

I called and spoke with a fellow named Jim. He's been getting hammered with phone calls and emails. I invited him to our forum to give his side of the issue, but he declined.

He did say that they didn't intend to insult the Scottish community. They had a policy in place and the young fellow only gave them one day to make a decision. Jim's point of view was that the school should have been notified in advance so that they could have a discussion about it.

By the way, Eric Schulzetenberg was not a student of the school.

I guess we'll see what happens.

[KiltedBishop]

His date was, and what I don't get. Why did they need notice? He wasn't wearing anything bad or distasteful. Did all the other students have to contact the school and tell the style Tux and color of tie and cumberbund?

[bjcustard]

Actually the ACLU protects the Bill of Rights, which for non-americans are the first ten amendments of the constituion.

Actually... the ACLU protects all of them except the 2nd Amendment. If the ACLU supported the 2nd Amendment, they'd want everyone to carry a weapon, 24/7/365...

(Sorry... I know it's off topic... couldn't resist... )

[macwilkin]

I just watched some video on the web from a MN news channel about the incident -- at one point, the male news broadcaster asked the reporter at the prom if the school board was aware that the future King of England (his words, not mine) wears a kilt to formal functions -- the reporter said that the school board needed more time to discuss it.

I am just amazed that "more time" is needed to discuss the fact that a guest to their school decided to wear an appropriate and proper form of formal dress.

The young man was very professional, well-spoken, and looked "sqaured away" -- hardly a trouble-maker.

Cheers,

Todd

[Niblox]

...not only bad, but ludicrous. How about bombarding the school with messages in support of this young man? It is not as if he was turning up in bondage gear or other weird clothing, nothing provocative.

[bjcustard]

..."more time" is needed to discuss...

The bureaucratic translation of the above is
"WE SCREWED UP, AND WE CAN'T UNSCREW IT UP, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO NOT PROVIDE EVIDENCE IF WE'RE SUED..."

The amazing thing to me is, why not just let the guy in...? No one will sue the district for ALLOWING him in, but assuredly they could be sued for NOT ALLOWING him to attend...

[Planopiper]

Ok, well, this won't go over well, but here goes: I have no sympathy for this kid. He got a copy of the dress code for the prom some months beforehand and it stated clearly in the dress code "dress pants". By no definition of the term can I see a kilt as "dress pants". The school board is trying to make the prom a nice event and wants to make it clear that cross-dressing would not be allowed. Kilts aren't on the radar for most people and I'm not surprised that they didn't make any accomodation for them. The student had the months before the prom to bring up the concept of the kilt and the fact that it can be a part of a very formal ensemble, but apparently he didn't. Instead he showed up in clothes that patently did not meet the dress code, so he was barred. That's how it should work. If you don't like the rules, work to change them, don't just break them.

What if they had included kilts in the dress code, and then someone showed up in a utilikilt or sport kilt or some other knock-off? Those are definitely not formal wear and would have marred the occasion. Is the school board responsible for being able to discriminate between those and a kilt? Do they need that kind of headache on top of everything else they're responsible for? I don't think so. If this kid wanted a special exception to be made for him, then he should have arranged it ahead of time. This was a good lesson for him to think ahead not just when he want to wear a kilt, but when he wants to do anything that is an exception to established rules.

[awoodfellow]

i don't think anyone on this board argues the fact the school had rules and a dress code but where the hell did " wants to make it clear that cross-dressing would not be allowed " come from?


'brose