Florida teen turned away from dance because of kilt

[Kid Cossack]

I think they turned him away because his hose were too low, if they were like the ones in the piccie. (Just kidding.)

Now let's all praise diversity and freedom of speech . . . .

[Pour1Malt]

here is what ai sent tae the reporter...

Dear Steve Patterson-

thank you for your article on the web about the kilted student that was discriminated against.

I can not find an email for the school-

so I was hoping you could pass on this message to the right people.

Thabnk you
Robertson Wellen
_________________________

I am shocked and offended at the openly discriminatory behavior of Jeanne Ballentine, Principal of J.E.B. Stuart Middle School.

She has openly discriminated against a student for wearing his national dress to a school dance. Student Miles Johnson has Scottish Heritage and proudly wears his kilt to events like the dance he was turned away from.

Ms. Ballentine and J.E.B. Stuart Middle School should be ashamed. What does she think the children are learning from her bigoted ignorant behavior?

If student Miles Johnson was of African decent and had wore a Dashiki would she have discriminated against him just the same?

I shutter to think of the other ways she is forcing her personal prejudices and uncouthness on the students of J.E.B. Stuart Middle School.

This behavior is ignorant and offensive. Ms. Ballentine should be fired since she clearly does not understand or embrace diversity and/or cultural pride.

Robertson Wellen
Proud Kilt Wearer

[Pour1Malt]

ai think ai found her email addresses....

ballenje@aol.com

ballentinj@educationcentral.org


let her have it!

[cavscout]

Here's another article that casts a little different (more positive) tone to the issue

http://www.cbs47.com/news/local/stor...f-dcea893000c2

[cavscout]

Here's another article that casts a little different (more positive) tone to the issue

http://www.cbs47.com/news/local/stor...f-dcea893000c2

I called the school to see if there was a web site and they refered me to this site

http://www.schoolnotes.com/cgi-bin/s...6&high=08&llc=

Looking at reviews and the fact that they don't seem to have a web site (which indicates to me a progressive or modern school) I'd imagine this school is in an "bad" area. Here they are (granted the newest is from February but we learn from history right?)

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/parents/fl/1017

[morrison]

Just now sent the following text to both e addresses

Dear madam Dr Ballentine,
I've learned today that recently a youth was forbibben entry to a high profile event for wearing clothing deemed inappropriate. The judgement, may have been amiss. I don't know the condition of the clothing the young man was wearing. Would I be correct to suppose that all the female attendees wore a dress or skirt? Did even one female wear slacks or some fashion of pants that may have been designed in the appearance of a skirt?
The youth of our communities are learning from their (our) educators methods of forming judgement. You, madam, have a profound mission ahead of you. Righting the wrong is not easy when few know it has occured. It gets tougher when many are observing its coming to pass with no restitution and/or reform and there is a denial or nonrecogniton of the circumstance. However, as large a pill as it may seem to have to swallow at the moment reparation is made, the moments follwing are of growth realized and relief from a sometimes untenable situation.
Dear friend, Dr. Ballentine, I believe a reasonable action is for you to speak to the youth publicly and apologzie for your misjudgement.

Sincerely,
Russell Berry
Kirkland, Wa.

[Dirk Skene]

I called. Only got a machine, but I left a message asking if an Hispanic, or Negro student showed up in traditional garb if they would have been turned away.

[Nick]

This keeps happening. It's a real-life situation of "those who are ignorant of history...", or at least those who are just ignorant.

[furrycelt]

here are just two threads that covered a similar incident with Nathan Warmack of Missouri:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=14533
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=14534

there was an online petition that was created to support him:
http://www.petitiononline.com/kilt05/

the response was huge. even a politician in Scotland got involved. it made alot of press in this country and across the pond. we need to make sure that this Florida school understands all this. show this administrator that this issue is not to be taken lightly.

it would also be great if there was some way to contact this boys family so that we can show our support and so that they can know that there are hundreds of people behind them.

[McMurdo]

This is what I just sent off:

I am shocked and offended at the discriminatory behavior of one Jeanne Ballentine, Principal of
J.E.B. Stuart Middle School.

It is inexcusable in this day and age where diversity and personal
expresion are so valued that a Middle School principal would turn away a
student from what is arguablly the most important dance of the
year because he was wearing a symbol of his heritage.

She must have known how important it was to the student Miles Johnson,
as he had worn the same outfit a year prior without incident.

Shame on Principal Ballentine for ruining what should be an
important and positive day in a young mans' life.
I just wish that when I was Miles Johnson's age that I had enough
pride in my heritage to wear the national dress of Scotland.

What kind of message is being sent to the students when
discrimination of this sort is allowed to go uncontested?
The Duval County school district does not have a dress code
for dances like Johnson's; it said it is up to each school
to determine what is allowed.
Would it not have served better to allow this young man his
cultural freedom?

Mr. Johnson and his family deserve at least an apology from
both the Duval County school district, and Principal Ballentine.


Yours
Glen Allardyce