Teacher's Tartan?

**CDNSushi** · 27th May 10, 04:50 PM

Personally, I don't see a problem with it at all either. Proliferation is fine in my books... I would also make one simple suggestion though. STOP trying to assign specific meaning and symbolism to each thread color. (That was kind of the gentle point of my last post which was perhaps too subtle and therefore missed). If you want to do this -- do it by creating a tartan that is overall, aesthetically pleasing. Then, if you truly want to assign symbolism, do it later. But just realize that education is a very, very broad cross-section of people, and K-12 teachers only scratch the surface. Even college instructors are just a small slice. An educator could really be anyone... Home schooling mothers, coaches, corporate trainers, tutors, music teachers, martial arts trainers, etc, etc.

I'm not saying that such a project would be futile -- but what I AM saying is that you're essentially creating a universal tartan that would be aimed at a VERY large cross-section of society. As the saying goes, opinions are like a*****s: everybody's got one.

Because of the large segment you're trying to represent, you're going to get so many opinions, and so many varying ideas on what an educator's tartan should look like, I think the best (maybe only) option would be just to make one, and register it.. (And hope people like it)...

**bricelythgoe** · 27th May 10, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

Because of the large segment you're trying to represent, you're going to get so many opinions, and so many varying ideas on what an educator's tartan should look like, I think the best (maybe only) option would be just to make one, and register it.. (And hope people like it)...

I completely agree!

**macwilkin** · 27th May 10, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by bricekolob

I believe that most of us, if not all of us, work in a school were there is not a tartan associated with the school.

Many of my family were teachers, and I wear my clan tartan and the tartan of the state they immigrated to to honor them, as well as my other family members who were farmers, etc. Instead of designing a specific tartan for a specific occupation, my tartans pay tribute to the land from which they came and the contributions they made to this nation in general.

Oh well...horses for courses.

T.

**Whidbey78** · 27th May 10, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by figheadair

No! Sorry guys but this is just more unnecessary proliferation. Why not one for: doctors, dentist, paramedics, janitors, binmen, road sweepers, tree surgeons, trawlermen, lighting engineers etc etc. How about one for every job or profession.

EMT's have a tartan tartan if memory serves.

Doctors and dentists(no offense to any on this forum) make enough to design their own, even separated into specialties.

Janitors, road sweepers, etc. have the Utilikilt Monochromatic tartan...wait. Nevermind.

I see nothing wrong with this "proliferation." If someone wants to deign it, it gets woven, and someone wants a kilt made from it, more power to them.

Besides, I get sick of seeing every other guy wearing Black Watch and Royal Stewart. If I could afford it I'd design a new tartan and have it made every time the mood struck me to buy a kilt. I'm planning on an XMTS kilt when the fabric becomes available again. Seems to me that doesn't date too far back.

If all tartans have to have a centuries long history and originate in Scotland and be made of wool(etc. etc. etc.) all I can say is TRY to take away my US Army kilt...dare ya.

And if you don't like the look, or what it represents, who it's designed for, the fact that there aren't any 300 year old paintings of someone wearing it that's fine. You're not the one putting in the time to design it, spending the money to have it made, or buying it.

If it happens, I guarantee one purchase...mine. A kilt for me and something for the wife(the teacher who sacrifices her free time and buys half her class supplies herself, on a paycheck only marginally better than a McJob, because she believes in what she does and loves every day of it so much she hates summer).

**bricelythgoe** · 27th May 10, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Many of my family were teachers, and I wear my clan tartan and the tartan of the state they immigrated to to honor them, as well as my other family members who were farmers, etc. Instead of designing a specific tartan for a specific occupation, my tartans pay tribute to the land from which they came and the contributions they made to this nation in general.

Oh well...horses for courses.

T.

I can see how the tartan would celebrate where they came from. Not sure how it pays tribute to what they did while they were here. The only way that I see to do that (with a kilt) would be to wear a tartan that honors their contributions, like the law enforcement or firefighter tartans.

**macwilkin** · 27th May 10, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by bricekolob

I can see how the tartan would celebrate where they came from. Not sure how it pays tribute to what they did while they were here. The only way that I see to do that (with a kilt) would be to wear a tartan that honors their contributions, like the law enforcement or firefighter tartans.

So by this logic, I should design a tartan for public health employees, since my great uncle worked in that role for the city of Des Moines. Or a tartan for John Deere employees, in honour of my grandfather.

Some of family have lived in Iowa since statehood -- 1846. They farmed the land, raised their families, worked as farmers & teachers, served in Iowa regiments at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Atlanta & The Philippines. They attended the Presbyterian Church, as they did since they left Scotland, as well as the Masonic, Odd Fellows & The Grand Army of the Republic meetings.

I don't need a tartan for everything they did. Whenever I look at the Iowa tartan, I see the state they lived and loved, and contributed so much to in their work & leisure.

T.

**creagdhubh** · 27th May 10, 07:51 PM

I am an educator (K-12 Art and Art History) and I voted no. There are enough tartan variations available out there (too many in my opinion), a teacher tartan doesn't make sense to me. Call me a traditionalist, call me a purist, but I only wear tartans that are of my clan (Macpherson, Gow, and Chattan), or of the district (Inverness-shire and Badenoch) in which my clan lands are located.

Cheers,

**creagdhubh** · 27th May 10, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

So by this logic, I should design a tartan for public health employees, since my great uncle worked in that role for the city of Des Moines. Or a tartan for John Deere employees, in honour of my grandfather.

Some of family have lived in Iowa since statehood -- 1846. They farmed the land, raised their families, worked as farmers & teachers, served in Iowa regiments at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Atlanta & The Philippines. They attended the Presbyterian Church, as they did since they left Scotland, as well as the Masonic, Odd Fellows & The Grand Army of the Republic meetings.

I don't need a tartan for everything they did. Whenever I look at the Iowa tartan, I see the state they lived and loved, and contributed so much to in their work & leisure.

T.

Well said and I agree.

**macwilkin** · 27th May 10, 08:13 PM

And just for the record, I'm not necessarily opposed to designing new tartans, including this one. I was just trying to explain my opinion as an educator about this tartan. Again, horses for courses.

T.

**bricelythgoe** · 27th May 10, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

And just for the record, I'm not necessarily opposed to designing new tartans, including this one. I was just trying to explain my opinion as an educator about this tartan. Again, horses for courses.

T.

That was the whole point. Just to get the opinions of those out there. It is good to see varying viewpoints on the subject.

I guess I wanted to do it because I am so limited in the tartans that I have connections to.