Utah school forces student to change out of kilt

[SteveB]

Ladies and gentlemen,
The young lad wore a kilt to school, and in the area that the lad attends school, the people were not accustomed to the kilt as a garment. The principal was apparently also not kilt aware.
Making generalizations about school administrators, the residents of Utah, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, etc. is no different than the generalization of the kilt as cross dressing. We all need to take a cultural awareness pill and think before typing.
I have worn a kilt since being a very young lad (early elementary school). My classmates at first gave me the "skirt" comments, not to deride me, but because they had no clue as to what the garment wrapped around my body was called. The closest thing that came to mind is a similar garment worn by the girls. During this time the schools that I attended did have a uniform, with certain days that were set for other attire to be worn. I chose the kilt as it was recognized in the school's rule book as proper for these designated non uniform days. There was one female teacher that was not kilt aware, and felt that I was wearing a skirt. I patiently explained the kilt and where it was mentioned in the school's rule book. She looked it up in the book and acknowledged it. This was in private between the teacher and I. It did not need to go to an administrator, the school department or the school committee. It also was not fodder for the press. This occurred about 20 B.C. (before computers).
While in high school (9-12th grade), I was dating a lass from another school that had a pipe and drum band. Her brother was the bass drummer and had need of a tall boy to carry the drum on his back for parades. I was over six feet tall and skinny as a rail. My girlfriend had talked me into being a drum carrier in her brother's band. The band uniform included a tartan kilt. I was never uncomfortable about being kilted. Most of my classmates knew of my marching with the band. It came as no surprise that when afternoon band competitions were on tap that I would come to school in full band kit. Only the football (soccer) coach thought it was weird. The regional competitions were at my school on a day the football team is out at practice. I had mentioned the coaches animosity of my kilt to some of my band mates. The day we drilled, we took a practice march straight down the football practice field. The football coach heard sixteen pipers playing Scotland the Brave at full volume from a very close range, as we did a split march right around him.
He never had a bad word to say about the kilt after that day as the band I marched with beat the trousers off of the band of the school that I attended in the competition.
The real power of the kilt.
As many of the younger members of this forum have posted of their need to educate others about the kilt, let us realize that this is what the lad was doing at the Rocky Mountain Junior High School.
Slainte

[Dan R Porter]

I agree, a man should never be so arrogant to not be humble enough to understand that children have much to teach us. Good play sir!

[Joe Gondek]

I've heard that as you cross state lines into Utah, there's a large sign that reads: "Welcome to Utah. Please set back your clock 200 years."

Is this true?

Utah used to have signs that read
"Welcome to the different World of Utah"

They later did away with that slogan But it really does fit the state

I lived in Utah for 25 years, the Salt Lake City area has a large number of open-minded people, Sadly, in the rest of the state they are out-numbered.

Which is one reason I moved

[bricelythgoe]

I've heard that as you cross state lines into Utah, there's a large sign that reads: "Welcome to Utah. Please set back your clock 200 years."

Is this true?

Please tell me you don't acctually believe that?

[bricelythgoe]

Utah used to have signs that read
"Welcome to the different World of Utah"

They later did away with that slogan But it really does fit the state

I lived in Utah for 25 years, the Salt Lake City area has a large number of open-minded people, Sadly, in the rest of the state they are out-numbered.

Which is one reason I moved

Well, being one of those that is outside SLC, there are a lot of open-minded people. I really can't disagree with you more. I believe we are just like any other state. The only difference is we have a large Latter-Day Saint population.

Again, I would like to say this was ONE principal in ONE school. There are over 2 million people in Utah. I don't think anyone of us can say there is a majority of people thinking this way or that way based on one incident.

By the way, it is too bad you left. Economical, Utah is one of the best states in the Nation.

Brice

[CDNSushi]

Please tell me you don't acctually believe that?

Tongue was placed firmly in cheek. Just pokin' some fun... Every state has its stereotypes that we like to prod at sometimes.

[Matty Ross]

I've heard that as you cross state lines into Utah, there's a large sign that reads: "Welcome to Utah. Please set back your clock 200 years."

Is this true?

I am putting you on the Naughty List

[beloitpiper]

Here's the story on NPR, as Rex pointed out:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=104239062

[ali8780]

Utah used to have signs that read
"Welcome to the different World of Utah"

They later did away with that slogan But it really does fit the state

I lived in Utah for 25 years, the Salt Lake City area has a large number of open-minded people, Sadly, in the rest of the state they are out-numbered.

Which is one reason I moved

Utah does not have the corner market on close mindedness, please do not confuse being conservative with being close-minded. People who come to Utah and gripe and complain about the people and their way of life and how constricting it is are being just as close-minded, do not you think?

It has been an observation of mine that people--of all walks of life-- have a distinct difficulty in accepting people that are different from what they are or are used to. Granted, some are better at this than others, but it is a plague we all have upon us, and it is our lifelong duties to try to overcome it.

Just because people in Utah choose to live a certain way does not make them close minded or ignorant or uncaring or intolerant etc.

You know, there once was a time that people who tried to live their lives morally, and were religious were actually applauded. Now it seems to only garner ridicule.

Forget the fact that we believe in Families and faithful Marriages that last, and teaching our children to be honest and caring and frugal and healthy. Forget that we believe in God and worship him, forget that we are taught to take responsibility for our actions, forget that we are taught to gain quality educations and better the world around us. Forget that we teach our children to live chaste lives and to treat each other's bodies as well as their own with respect. Forget all of this and the myriad other values we hold dear, because you're right--we're all just a bunch of uneducated morons without open minds who can't possibly put up with people who are different.

[McClef]

We don't want to get into religious controversies because that is a) against X Marks rules and b) counter productive.

The presence of several LDS members on this forum should indicate that kilts are not a religious issue problem for them. There are plenty of other fora around for discussing other issues but X Marks is not the place nor should it be.

You will find cultural close mindedness everywhere because kilts go against the norm as an expected item of male dress. Other schools in other states and other countries have had similar incidents too.