I trust we all remember the issue of Hamish Jacobs, the graduating Canadian teen who was denied permission to wear his kilt to his graduation ceremony- I haven't been able to dig out the earlier thread which was I believe started by a family member. Anyway, I just got a phone call saying that the school caved in and sure enough a story in the Calgary Herald newspaper confirms that: I'm pasting on the text here:

It looks like 19-year-old Hamish Jacobs will be dressed to kilt on graduation day, after all. The young lad from southwestern Alberta won the right to bare his legs -- and don his family tartan -- after standing up to his elders at Westwind School Division in Raymond.

After international media scrutiny, trustees finally agreed to bend the rules on the school policy that says boys can't show their legs under their graduation gowns.

Jacobs simply wanted to wear a kilt, in honour of his Scottish heritage.

The moral of this story? Teachers can learn a thing or two from their students.

The lesson officials failed to grasp is that the Scots have had a great influence on Canada and Canadians. The Scottish were among the first settlers, Nova Scotia was thus named for New Scotland, every province and territory but Nunavut has regional tartans, and the bagpipes that came with early fur traders inspired General Wolfe's Highlanders to capture Quebec in 1759.

The bagpipes are still a significant part of Canadian pomp and pageantry, serving in official ceremonies such as the Ceremonial Guard at Rideau Hall, when the soldiers march to their posts at the main gate accompanied by a bagpiper.

Canadian and Scottish soldiers during the First World War became known as the Devils in Skirts for their bravery in serving their country. If it's good enough for war, surely it's good enough for graduation?

By going public, Hamish Jacobs won his battle against obtuse officials. We know what he'll be wearing under his gown to collect his high school diploma. As for what he wears under his kilt? That's best left to tradition, and remain a mystery.

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald


Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion...#ixzz0pcvjg1s9

Freedom! Freedom!