Quote Originally Posted by pbutts View Post
Keltic-

Have you worn a kilt to school yet? I'm an elementary school library media teacher and since most of the staff does the casual Friday thing, I'm considering making it "Kilted Friday" when my long-awaited Matt Newsome kilt arrives in the Spring. Understand, most of my kiddos are pretty respectful--my last name is "Butts" and they learn pretty quickly to deal with that-- so a kilt should be no big deal.
Pbutts,

yes, I have worn a kilt to school, but only for teaching about St. Patrick's Day. I've also dressed as a pirate, worn "elf" ears, and put temporary tattoos on my bald head, all in the interest of engaging the students (yes, that's it, engaging the students in meaningful learning, I'm certain that's why I do it.....)

What a coincidence that your last name is Butts, we have a 2nd grade teacher with that same name.

Here's my plan. I'm going to my principal soon and will tell him that I plan on wearing my kilts on quite a few days as we approach St. Patrick's Day, and that I will use that as part of the music lessons, which will of course, include not only the music, but the traditions, customs, etc of the celtic culture both in the US and in the motherland. After that, I figure kilted fridays can just kick in without too much notice. AND, we have no dress code for the staff, so it will be tough for an admin to tell me not to wear the kilt.

That said, I spend a lot of time teaching my students about the proper way to respond to something that is new to them. Unfortunately, the district I work in, just 50 miles south of Pittsburgh, might as well be in the deep mountains of Appalachia (yes, we are part of that mountain range). Most of my students are poor and have no experience outside of their little towns. When I play them a song in a foreign language, their first reaction is to laugh. A few of them are catching on that were they to leave their town, THEY would be the ones who are different and would be the target of ridicule (assuming others have the same initial reactions that they do.) My wearing a kilt would be just one more way I can teach them about the diversity that exists in the world, and how they should respond when they encounter it.