December 23, 2005

Scots Wha Hey!

Student asked to change out of kilt seeks dress code change.

Where's the ACLU? Highland heritage is being mocked, mocked I tell ye, in the wilds of Missouri.

After Nathan Warmack and his date posed for [high school prom] pictures, principal Rick McClard, who had not previously seen the kilt, told the student he had to go change. Warmack refused a few times and said the outfit was recognizing his heritage.

Warmack alleges McClard told him: "Well, this is my dance, and I'm not going to have students coming into it looking like clowns." McClard later said he had no recollection of saying that, Warmack's dad said. The principal did not return phone calls seeking comment.

The school district's superintendent, Ron Anderson, said McClard has the authority under the district's dress code policy to judge appropriate dress for extracurricular activities, including dances.

"It's mainly to protect from the possibility of a disruption or something that could be viewed as a disruption," Anderson said.

Several Scottish heritage organizations are angry, saying the kilt is a symbol of Scottish pride and considered formal dress.

"To say the traditional Scottish dress makes you look like a clown is a direct insult to people of Scottish heritage and those who live in Scotland," said Tom Wilson, a Texas commissioner for the Clan Gunn Society of North American, a Scottish heritage organization.

As a Scot myself, I am outraged! Furthermore, I hereby demand immediate reparations for my pain and suffering. Pony up, ye anti-Caledonian bastards!

UPDATE: Punch line to dirty Scottish joke: "She's in the distillery making Johnny Walker Red."

Posted by Robert at December 23, 2005 09:33 AM | TrackBack
Comments

They wouldn't have been so offended had he been wearing underwear at the time. He was quoted as saying "The lads just need to be free".

Posted by: LB buddy at December 23, 2005 11:57 AM

Well, I didn't think Scots wore anything under their kits anyway, what's the deal? Unless he was flashing his jewels...

But I agree, the kilt is formal wear for a Scotsman! What's the problem? I doubt it was causing any kind of stir with the other kids.

Posted by: GroovyVic at December 23, 2005 01:32 PM

Dirty Scottish Jokes:

Q: How does a Scot find a sheep in the tall grass?

A: Quite accommodating.

Posted by: LB buddy at December 23, 2005 04:33 PM