blasted school

[cwr89]

So I am in a legal studies class. its a blow off class I took it because I am one of the few seniors that still cares about grades and I would rather die than sit in a study hall. (2 reasons, wednesday and thursday are block schedule days, and I can't sit still for 2 hours silently I will go insane.) So I take this legal studies class and its sort of fun cause its with lots of seniors and we joke a lot and the teacher is cool. So we are doing our first of 2 mock trials and my teacher tells us we have to dress like our part, I am a Jury member (this is a civil trial). He then looks at me and says "No skirts" sort of jokingly so I say, *looking down at my SWK Irish National* and say, this isn't a skirt. his rebuttle, "no kilts then". I asked him after class and he looked at me and said that the only reason I wear this is make other people laugh. And thats where I started to get steamed. I told him that if I was going to be kicked out of the trial *off the jury stand* and fail because of a kilt then the 2 foreign exchange students shouldn't be aloud to wear their burkas. he said that it was their culture, I said that kilts was mine and he had no right to tell me what my culture was.

None of this was said maliciously on either part, no yelling it was just a simple civil debate. he told me that there was no rule in the school forbidding it nor is there a rule forbidding it for a court and that if I dress in a kilt it has to be presentable, now he has no idea what "presentable" for a kilt is, really. but he then told me that it would just be best if I wore khaki pants and a nice polo shirt. problem, I don't own khaki pants. I have 1 pair of black jeans, and 1 pair of blue jeans.

Should I go get pants or should I wear a kilt and risk having to fight for my grade with admin help?

currently I have a 98.673% in the class.
worst of all is, he isn't the judge in this case yet he will hold me in contempt of court for "screwing around by intentionally being a smart ***"
I know its rough language for a teacher but this was after class and just the 2 of us talking.

just a bit mad. its not that big of a deal but I HATE wearing pants when its above 60deg outside. our school outsources our AC control. its controlled by a computer in Georgia, I live in Cincinnati... its never comfortable.

what are your thoughts?
~Casey

[/rant]

[McMurdo]

Well he did say wear it presentably, so wear it presentably, a few months ago I had to go to court for a minor traffic thing, I of course went kilted, it was not a problem at all, of course I wore it presentably, and was if I say so myself I was the most presentable there. So even in the real world it can be done, what is being passed of as acceptable attire these days is generally deplorable, I would think a well put together kilt outfit would be a breath of fresh air.

So I say wear the best stuff you have, go with your head held high, and remember that if your teacher gives you a problem you could always talk to the principal or vice principal on the matter.

[J.B. Simpson]

If it was me residing in your shoes I would wear my kilt. I think it is wrong for him to basically threaten you with a bad grade because of wearing a kilt.

""he isn't the judge in this case yet he will hold me in contempt of court for "screwing around by intentionally being a smart ***"" I cannot begin to fathom how wearing a kilt could fall under screwing around. I believe I personally would be having a conversation with the school administrators and the teacher. Make sure you include both so you can show that you are not looking to get laughs, and that you are proud of your heritage.

Just my $.02, I will now step down .

[beloitpiper]

Screw him, wear the kilt. If he gets on your case, we can go on a letter-writing campaign. It's been done before.

[RobertParker]

I'll say something similar I said in a post yesterday to a member who was told he couldn't wear pants to work at the bank. I mentioned that some areas of society are always going to require the societal norm because it projects an air of stability and predictability; it's a psychological thing. At a bank it's supposed to be a subtle message linking the idea that dressing conservatively suggests that they're going to be responsible with your money.

In this case, as a juror on a trial, it suggests that you aren't someone who will take the matter lightly; that you don't flaunt the rules or buck the trend or whatever, and your choice of dress indicates a level of seriousness which means you can be trusted to reach a sound decision that will affect someone else's life.

Now, I know this is just a class, not real. I'm quite certain that you are an intelligent guy who would take the matter seriously if you wore a ball gown. But remember that in certain instances, others' perceptions of you carry a lot of weight, even if it sucks.

Now it sounds like the teacher was out of line in how he told you and in the reasons he gave. A kilt with a nice jacket and tie looks plenty conservative, in the right place. But an American court of law ain't it. If you're willing to accept the consequences of wearing the kilt, by all means do it. If you think it's not worth it, wear the kilt to school, change into pants for the trial, and change back after. Part of life is knowing that the right choice still sometimes comes with crappy side effects. Whatever decision you make, own it! Good luck.

[Ealisaid]

I find it particularly odious that people of European heritage are not permitted to own their heritage, but some institutions lean over backwards to permit other people to wear their ethnic dress. It's as if to say that we, and only we, have no heritage at all, and that to say that we do is merely an attempt to cause trouble. Fiddlesticks!

The kilt is a gentleman's garment. I would suggest wearing a nice shirt and tie, and a day jacket if you have one; otherwise a decent sweater, such as a wooly pully.

[cwr89]

yeah, well I think I might just do that. I will wear a kilt and then change when I get there. hmm. thats 1 plus of changing from kilt to pants. not a need to be at all revealing. thanks!

now to get pants. hmmm...

~Casey

[cwr89]

that less the pipe and hat? perhaps? its khaki and a nice shirt.

~Casey

[McMurdo]

Casey
I really think that outfit is a wee bit too dressed down for court, when I went to court earlier on this year I wore something like the shot below, I think you would agree that the outfit I chose was worn not to make people laugh but to both show the respect that the court demands and deserves, but also so that I was as comfortable as possible.

Here is basically what I wore, if you wear something similar I'm sure you would have a leg to stand on if you wear the outfit you show above I am sure your teacher will have something to say about it.

[cwr89]

Ok, thanks! I will wear a tartan and my argyle tweed jacket. I don't have a vest but I do have a nice tie.
I'll have the p@^+$ as a back up though.

thanks!