The word kilt comes from the Scots word kilt, which means "to tuck up the clothes around the body." The Scots word derives from the Old Norse word kjalta, from Norse settlers who wore a similar, non-tartan pleated garment.

The history of the kilt goes back to the end of the 16th century. The kilt is an item of traditional Scottish highland dress. In the early 19th century, the highland kilt was adopted by Lowlanders and the Scottish Diaspora as a symbol of national identity. People from many countries with Celtic ancestors wear kilts. The original kilt (the great kilt) was a full length garment that featured the upper-half as a cloak that was draped over the shoulder or worn over the head as a cloak. The walking kilt (or small kilt) did not come into play until the late 17th or early 18th century and was basically, the bottom half of the great kilt.

Just this week, in West Haven, Utah, principal Craig Jessop at Rocky Mountain Junior High informed 14-year old Gavin McFarland, who comes from Scottish heritage, that the kilt he had worn twice in the past two weeks as a prop for an art project was inappropriate and could be "misconstrued as cross-dressing." The Weber School District later made the principal apologize to McFarland.

It's a relief to see that the Weber School District stepped up and sided with Gavin, who was wearing attire that is important to his Scottish roots. Regardless of whether he was crossdressing or not, I don't see why a student would be told that was inappropriate attire. I wonder if girls wear pants at Rocky Mountain Junior High? If they do, I highly doubt that would be considered crossdressing. What IF a boy showed up wearing a dress to school? Do you think that there is a double standard when it comes to what society considers "appropriate" in terms of gender attire?