Update - Kilted in the classroom

[MacHummel]

I'm an educator also and I make a point to wear one of my kilts at lest once a week at school I would wear them more often but the class I work with, the students have developmental disabilities and sometimes these kids can get a little out of hand and need a little physical intervention.
But the rest of the school has always been very supportive about the wearing of my kilts. The one kilt that seems to really attract attention is my denim kilt. Most of the students in the school ask questions and on top of that the Fashion Arts teacher has asked me to come in and talk to her students about kilts and kilt making.
So keep up the kilt wearing.

[arrogcow]

I teach occasionally at a JC and have actually been asked (not officially mandated) not to wear the kilt by my immediate boss (and mostly he was afraid of the former college president's reaction). For the most part, I have complied, though I have given finals kilted a few times. I am also kilted any time I am at the school when not teaching. As a result, most of my students have seen me either at school or out (I teach video production, and try to get students on shoots when ever possible) in a kilt, and while there is some good natured teasing, it doesn't really phase them.

Adam

[GlassMan]

I forgot to mention that I'm the senior stained glass arts instructor for the Arlington County Parks & Rec department and ever since going to kilts I've been kilted. My bosses were shocked at first, but have had no problem since. And none of my students seem to care.

--Phil

[pdcorlis]

I met the rest of my course sections yesterday and student response was much the same - no unkind remarks and a few complements from the ladies. I did have a male student stop me in the hall to tell me how great he thought the kilt looked. I'm all smiles.

After work, I stoped by the optometrist's office to pick up a new pair of glasses. I had not one but two women "helping" me - talking about their scots ancestors - their families - and how could they find out about their clan tartan.

As I got in my Jeep in the parking lot - a big white truck came to a screeching halt in the stall next to mine. An older lady got out and wanted to know where I got my kilt. "I'm a wallace and I'd sure like to see my husband in a kilt" she explained. I rattled off a couple of sources for her to look at on the net and drove away.

All in all - a pretty good day!

[Sciuropterus]

I come from a family of teachers. I used to be a journeyman-level sign and display artist, I taught (part-time) airbrushing and sign painting at a local technical college for 3 years, as well as teaching airbrush classes at national art trade shows. Although I no longer teach painting, I still teach martial arts and do educational presentations with my live flying squirrels (not at the same time!). I don't wear a kilt for animal demos because it divides the attention of the audience which makes my job harder.

I think public speaking is one of the single most important skills to develop, it will help your life in so many ways, from getting a job to getting a date!

[John M.]

Flying squirrels. Sounds interesting, I've never seen one in person before.

I did grow-up having a neighbor who did the same sort of thing though.
She travels all over Utah and even some of the surrounding states (IIRC) going to schools and such teaching about snakes.

She had a 14 foot Python named Jack & a Rosey boa that I got to handle quite a bit. Once in a while I miss having them around. Especialy Jack. He'd wrap up around my hips then come up my back & drape his head over my shoulder. Then we'd go cruise around the yard so he could get some fresh air. ;-)

[Sherry]

10th to 12th grade? Now THATS a tough crowd!

But for WhiteRavenJr., they are his peers, not his students. :smile: That's even tougher.

My oldest DS wears his to university classes, & he gets mostly positive responses. On the negative side, it's really been nothing more than surprise & lack of understanding.

He wore his Nightstalker to the first day of his Fine Arts class, & the prof asked him if it was a real kilt; seems he's never seen a kilt in real life before.

[Riverkilt]

Not an educator, but every semester I do a gig at the local high school for six classes of "bad boys." Main gist of it is how alcohol and all the different drugs kill humans...i.e. what happens to the human body in overdose...how heroin kills, how Ecstasy kills, how cocaine kills, et.al. Not done as a finger wagging warnimg, more as "did you ever wonder how?"

Always go to the high school kilted. Never been a problem, even with these less than friendly students. Actually get more comments in the high school hallways from faculty than from the students.

One of the joys of kilting is to expose the concept of kilts to those who've known no option other than the slavery of pants.

And I do agree with the public speaking comment. These youngsters are used to being entertained, so having public speaking skills - mixed with some theater - works to keep their attention.

Ron

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Phil,

Glad things went well. And kilts are clothing, not costumes. I really can't imagine wearing pants again. Closest I have come recently was sweat pants to go sledding.

[michael steinrok]

Phil,

Glad things went well. And kilts are clothing, not costumes. I really can't imagine wearing pants again. Closest I have come recently was sweat pants to go sledding.

Now that sounds like an activity that you wouldn't want to do kilted more than once! BBrrrrr...