Petition seeking apology for kilt incident makes its way from Texas to Jackson

An Internet petition has made its way back to Southeast Missouri requesting an apology and change in the student dress code for Jackson High School.

At the November Silver Arrow formal dance at the school, senior Nathan Warmack was asked to change from his clan kilt into pants by principal Rick McClard.

McClard did not return the Southeast Missourian's phone calls Wednesday.

The Jackson kilt incident has made those with Scottish and Irish heritage angry and members of Clan Gunn started petition to get an apology from McClard.

Tom Wilson, commissioner of the Texas Branch of Clan Gunn, said many of Clan Gunn members tried to contact McClard directly.

"How could a person who works with kids on a daily basis not see the importance of self-esteem and the courage it takes young people to show pride in their families' heritages?" the letter attached to the petition said. "We cannot fathom Mr. McClard's decision, and it angers us that while we are barraged by PC expectations from every possible single-issue group out there, that he would choose to diminish the Scottish tradition of the kilt in such a really unnecessary context; a school dance. We truly hope Mr. McClard finds the courage to apologize to Nathan Warmack. He deserves an apology,"

The petition began on Nov. 19 and has already accumulated more than 779 signatures from across the globe. More than 150 signatures are from local people.

Clan Gunn intends to submit a printed version of the petition to the school and school board in the future.

"To us as representatives of the Scottish community it's really appalling how unrepentant the individual is and the whole system is behaving," Wilson said. "If it had been any other ethnicity that is more sensitive then there would have been considerably more backlash."

Jackson superintendent Ron Anderson said he has not received any phone calls about the incident but has seen a few Internet comments.

"We don't have any comment regarding it, it's a principal decision and that pretty much covers it," Anderson said.

The international Clan Gunn society is working with the Warmacks to put together a registry to receive donations to provide Nathan Warmack with the rest of the items he needs to complete his Scottish ensemble, Wilson said.

ameyer@semissourian.com 335-6611, extension 127