Florida teen turned away from dance because of kilt

[Tattoo Bradley]

It never ceases to amaze me, the ignorance and NERVE people hold.

[Tartan Hiker]

E-mail sent to principal. Among other things, I reminded her of the high school in Sarasota, Florida that fields a kilted band.

[ScottInNewHampshire]

Thanks monkey@arms for this interesting thread. Here's what I sent to the school and the county school office:

Dear Dr. Ballentine:

I was saddened and surprised to read about the prom incident involving your 8th grade student, Miles Johnson. As I'm sure you are aware of by now, news of this has reached the World Wide Web and particularily a forum for kilt wearing persons from all over the globe. While we were not privy to your private conversations with Miles, it does not seem appropriate to me that he should have been discouraged from expressing himself and his heritage through the wearing of the kilt. Most certainly this was a missed opportunity for you to show your commitment to your diversity program. You had the opportunity to lead by example and embrace this student's bravery and pride. I, like others in the forum, do not believe that a student representing their heritage in a similar way, perhaps through the wearing of a dashiki or a sahri or even for that matter your female students wearing dress slacks or a suit, would have been turned away at the Prom door.

While I respect the difficult job you have on a daily basis having to determine right from wrong, appropriate from inappropriate, I humbly suggest that this time your decision was misguided. I would advocate for a public and soul searching apology to Miles and to your student body. Dr. Aaron Lazare in his excellent book On Apology offers example after example of how a heart felt apology can work wonders in healing broken relationships and right wrongs. Please consider this.

Sincerely,

Bill Scott
Exeter, New Hampshire

[Nick]

Ignorance is bliss.

Ignorance is only bliss to the ignorant.

[Bob C]

This incident caught me on the wrong day. I was not as diplomatic as some of you. Upon reflection, that's probably the case most of the time. Here's my email to Ms. Ballentine, the district, the superintendent and the newspaper reporter.

Dear Ms. Ballentine,

I have been made aware of your recent treatment of Miles Johnson, a middle school student who was turned away from his prom because you decided that his Scottish kilt was inappropriate.

I am dismayed at this overt demonstration of racism. Do you casually disregard the cultural heritage of students of African, Hispanic, Arab or other cultures, too?

Mr. Johnson seeks to honor both his family heritage and the Scottish soldiers who fight alongside our own forces in Iraq by wearing the Black Watch tartan. Your response is to reject his tribute, and his impeccable dress, because of your own ignorance.

Your ignorance should not be Mr. Johnson's problem. Your misuse of authority should be curbed by your superiors. Your behavior is outrageous. I call on you to issue a public apology to Mr. Johnson and his family and to amend your racist ways so that students in the future will not be subjected to such treatment.

[Ruanaidh]

I have also sent Principle Ballentine a letter politely pointing out her bad judgement call. I also forwarded the letter to Steve Patterson steve.patterson@jacksonville.com lest my message to Ms. Ballentine not receive the attention it deserves.

[mddock58]

Here's a pic of the young man.



Maybe not perfect, But Confident!

Story in Jacksonville paper......http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-onlin...69959464.shtml

[MadBagpiper]

somebody do the boy a favor and send him a better pair of hoes! haha

[auld argonian]

somebody do the boy a favor and send him a better pair of hoes! haha

Watch it...that's how Imus got in trouble

Best

AA

[MrLion]

My son's high school has a written dress code for "formals" (banquets, proms), for boys, "no shorts, kilts, tennis shoes, short sleeve shirts, white socks..."
Since it's been in writing for ages, it has not been a problem.
It has not been questioned to my knowledge.