Wannabe Scot

**macwilkin** · 13th December 05, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by bubba

Todd, Amen. I loved history in school but hated the idiot text books. I got in lots of trouble in class because I read outside the text book. The teacher would cite an event and make a pronouncement about it and I'd come in the next day and cite all kinds of ands, buts, and therefors and totally wipe out his pronouncement. I won't even go into the 3 day suspension over Pearl Harbor and it's causes. This often lead to a trip to the office. Then, when my kids were in high school I looked at their history books and discovered they were utter trash. They did what I did with similar results. IMO, history is badly taught in the primary and secondary levels (there are exceptional teachers, but most aren't) and it ends up boring the hell out of the kids.

Bubba, that is almost an indentical experience I had in Junior High -- I correced my social studies teacher on his horrible lecture about the Alamo, and wound up in the Principal's Office for my troubles! ;) Luckily the Librarian was on my side, and had the documentation to back me up!

OT over...

T.

**bubba** · 13th December 05, 10:39 AM

Todd, the problem was never a lack of documentation supporting my positions, it was always "disrupting the classroom" or "insubordination". It was a constant all through Jr High and 2 of my 3 years of high school. In those days the history teacher was more than likely the gym teacher or a shop teacher teaching history as a second class. One in Jr High sticks in my mind especially. He was the printing teacher, and he knew that subject inside out, but as a history teacher he knew almost nothing about the subject. After he talked about 10 minutes most of the class was asleep and the rest of us wondered what planet he was from. His outlook was anything before the founding of the US is irrelevent and not worth bothering with. Can you just imagine his lecture on the Punic Wars? Pure insanity. By the second quarter I'd walk in, be counted, then just go to the office without bothering to wait for the guy to start.

**macwilkin** · 13th December 05, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by bubba

Todd, the problem was never a lack of documentation supporting my positions, it was always "disrupting the classroom" or "insubordination". It was a constant all through Jr High and 2 of my 3 years of high school. In those days the history teacher was more than likely the gym teacher or a shop teacher teaching history as a second class. One in Jr High sticks in my mind especially. He was the printing teacher, and he knew that subject inside out, but as a history teacher he knew almost nothing about the subject. After he talked about 10 minutes most of the class was asleep and the rest of us wondered what planet he was from. His outlook was anything before the founding of the US is irrelevent and not worth bothering with. Can you just imagine his lecture on the Punic Wars? Pure insanity. By the second quarter I'd walk in, be counted, then just go to the office without bothering to wait for the guy to start.

That sounds so familiar Bubba! ;)

T.

**Mike1** · 13th December 05, 11:20 AM

Daz, thanks for chiming in. You pretty much laid it for all to see.

To expand a bit on your comment about people purchasing second homes in Scotland, that can do more to dilute Scotland's culture than the resident Scot that is not wearing a kilt. If they are only willing to bring their own culture with them, that is.

**Raphael** · 13th December 05, 11:38 AM

It is up to an individual, but I think learning a little about Scotland will enhance the experience of kilt wearing. My kilts caught a lot of attention over the years and most of the time to the eyes of the Scots. They all wanted to talk about the kilt, tartan and Scotland. If I didn't know anything about Scotland, I would be embarassed. To lots of people, the kilt is not just garment, but a symbol of a proud nation of people.

**macwilkin** · 13th December 05, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Raphael

It is up to an individual, but I think learning a little about Scotland will enhance the experience of kilt wearing. My kilts caught a lot of attention over the years and most of the time to the eyes of the Scots. They all wanted to talk about the kilt, tartan and Scotland. If I didn't know anything about Scotland, I would be embarassed. To lots of people, the kilt is not just garment, but a symbol of a proud nation of people.

Well said, Raphael!

Cheers,

Todd

**Freelander Sporrano** · 13th December 05, 11:43 AM

In my view I think when you put on a tartan kilt with a Scottish clan connection you really won't get too far before the first questions start to be asked by others. I feel it a duty (Maybe a strong term) to be able to answer at least about the basics of the kilts tartan and clan it represents.

**highlander_Daz** · 13th December 05, 11:43 AM

They are welcome to bring thier own culture so long as they dont expect Scotland to change with them , In England at the moment there are local councils who ban the flag of St George for fear of upsetting immigrants and banning christmas for fear of upsetting Non Christians, indeed the charman of the council of Mosques has called this practice "ridiculous" I pray we never see the day in Scotland when the Saltire cant be flown for fear of upsetting anyone, if they are upset Ill gladly run themto the airport. Many groups have settled here and kept a sense of identlty but become "new Scots" the Irish are an excelent example, and Edinburgh has a large Jewish population. as for the holiday cottage interlopers I hope Jack the lad introduces legistlation to stop this ASAP

**Colin** · 13th December 05, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by highlander_Daz

They are welcome to bring thier own culture so long as they dont expect Scotland to change with them , In England at the moment there are local councils who ban the flag of St George for fear of upsetting immigrants and banning christmas for fear of upsetting Non Christians, indeed the charman of the council of Mosques has called this practice "ridiculous" I pray we never see the day in Scotland when the Saltire cant be flown for fear of upsetting anyone, if they are upset Ill gladly run themto the airport. Many groups have settled here and kept a sense of identlty but become "new Scots" the Irish are an excelent example, and Edinburgh has a large Jewish population. as for the holiday cottage interlopers I hope Jack the lad introduces legistlation to stop this ASAP

Sounds like Canada. We seem to be willing to bend over backwards to make others feel welcome and to not offend them. Unfortunately in the process we have lost any chance of creating a Canadian Identity. I love having the multi cultural environment of Canada, but we run the risk of dividing people more, as no common ground is being promoted.