I just read an article about a senior high school football player who wore a kilt to a high school dance and was asked to change clothes because his principal said "Well, this is my dance, and I'm not going to have students coming into it looking like clowns." This has sparked a national debt since kilts are considered formal dress and the notion that they make Scots "look like clowns." So what are your thoughts? Should people be allowed to wear kilts to honor their heritage?

Kilts In High School single choice
	Yes
	No
Votes accepted starting: 12/31/69 08:00 PM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

Absolutely! Why is it every other race can display their heritage proudly, but when it's a Euro-American, it's "racist," or, in this case, "clownish"?? I hope he sues the school and gets a bundle! Hypocritical turd-munchers!

I agree. When I was reading this article all I was thinking about is how its legal for muslims to wear headcovers due to their religious beliefs. So why can't Scots do it for national heritage?

What happens if the guy isn't Scottish? Is it allowed then?

Even if kilts weren't considered formal Scottish dress or a source of Scottish pride or whatever, students should be perfectly free to wear what they wish when attending public school, unless what they are wearing creates a safety or health issue or something like that for the other students.

But if you're going to make stipulations, you have to for everybody. E.g., only true Africans (not African-American) can wear African garb, and even then they would have to be descended from the original tribe which made that particular garment, etc. I think that would set a bad precedent and furthermore, end up reaching the ludicrous in application. In other words, that would reeeaaally be splitting hairs.

Well if it's too short or too "revealing" than it could cause a "distraction" Yeah, like kids actually pay attention and CARE about school

Very good question Mick. I would still say they should be able to wear it. What happened to the good ol "freedom of expression" thing?

I can't agree with your entire post, Plaw. I see nothing wrong with a public school imposing a dress code. For example, my daughter's school forbids belly shirts, any head coverings (except for religious purposes), spaghetti straps, shirts with racist or obsene sayings, etc. I don't know if these would exactly fall under "health or safety", but I think that they're common sense.

As for the kilts, I see nothing wrong with a student wearing one, if he was dressed neatly, and it wasn't paired with a shirt that said something to the effect of "Want to know what's under my kilt?". Mel Gibson wore one to the Academy Awards when he was nominated for Braveheart, and he looked positively awesome.

The school has the right to impose a dress code, but this is absurd.

Snake, whoever said "Euro-American" clothes were "racist" and "clownish" except for one principal?

I think, SB, that it's the responsibility of the parents, who pay the taxes that support the public schools, to determine what their kids do or don't wear.

This isn't about race, though.

Ever been down South? Many of us believe the Confederate flag is symbolic of history, period. Lots of us lost ancestors in it. Yet just because a few pointed-headed idiots in white sheets decided to adopt it as their flag, everyone immediately assumes that those who fly it, wear it, whatever, are racist. Some believe the same thing regarding the "Iron Cross," even though a lot of bikers I know wear them for no particular reason at all except that they look cool.

By the way, try banning the "X" gear (as in Malcolm X), even though he said he believed "any means necessary" was okay to achieve equality (read, bloodshed). You'd be considered a racist, my friend. I say if you're going to ban one, then ban 'em all...or else shut up and grow up.

For living in a free country he should be able to dress how he wants.

Plaw, in a perfect world, I might agree with you, but not in this one. Children are there to be educated, not put on a fashion show. And while I know that school of thought might make me sound like an old fart, I think that schools in this country would have a much easier time teaching our kids if the students weren't so concerned with who has what kind of jeans or sneakers or cellphones, or what have you. And I see nothing wrong with imposing a dress code that doesn't deny creativity or personality, just cover some of it up lest we see too much of your "personality".

Snake, Personally, I see nothing wrong with recognizing our past and accepting it for what it was. However, the iron cross and the confederate flag are synonymous with an oppressive past, and one that needn't be celebrated. That doesn't just make sense?

Yes and no. I won't wear either especially because some find them offensive...just as I'd wear underwear under me kilt!
HOWEVER, I still think it's ridiculous and hypocritical of folks to scream "racism" on the one hand at one group (i.e., those proud of Southern heritage) but allow an equally offensive something-or-other to be worn by others (e.g., the "X" crowd) that may offend other folks and say, "Hey, shutup! It's their heritage." If there's really going to even be a playing field, let's level it. Otherwise, everybody take your balls and go home. (Uh-oh...somebody's gonna make a joke about that )

Unfortunately that's what we've become. It's all about social status and what kind of clothes you wear, sneakers, etc. If you buy the expensive stuff (such as Abercrombie, etc) you're deemed to be "preppy" or possibly "elite/rich/stuck up." It's just how schools are today. They ARE fashion shows

Thank God our local public schools adopted a uniform policy (yeah, I know it's a racket), so none of that goes on. They should also require bullet-proof vests, though (thank God we home school!).

Yes, people should be allowed to wear kilts to honour their heritage.
Irish do you know the ethnic/cultural background of the principal?

Traditional dress of another culture always seems to be funny to others. That is just becasue of their limited exposure to different cultures and an inexplicable need for conformance and uniformity.
It is none of the business of public schools to impose dress codes. In france the government was trying to ban the scarves that islamic girls wear to school. Why concentrate on trivial issues like Kilts and scarves when more serious issues plague education?

I sure don't man, sorry. I just read an article on AOL

FREEDOM!

Give it a few years. Soon enough wearing a band T-shirt, like say Nirvana or Metallica, will be illegal for being offensive to people who aren't fans. :p

So the kid who wants to wear a black, designer jock strap to his prom is OK if his parents think its OK?

Black might not attract enough attention. Bright Orange would be ideal.

A couple of reasons why kilts might not be the right choice for formal wear.

[img]http://images.snapfish.com/3458534%3C6%7...7%3B%3C46nu0mrj[/img]

[img]http://images.snapfish.com/3458534%3C6%7...3A8582859nu0mrj[/img]

ha ha good pics!

If that's all the kid is gonna wear, then no, it's not OK.

There are laws against indecent exposure, after all (which is a subject for another debate).

But if the kid wants to wear a jockstrap outside his regular clothes and look like an asshole, that should be up to him.