Can a Boy Wear a Skirt to School?

The NY times online poised this question online last week.

My question is: Is our Public Education system ready for this question?

I don't think so.

Personally, I believe of course, if it is within the dress code,

a boy should be allowed to wear a skirt to school.

I am all about breaking down gender constructs,

and letting children express themselves, even (gasp!) if it may

be outside the traditional gender roles, be distracting, or

make other people think about their own choice of clothing and self expression.

The crux of the argument for school administrators who are against letting

boy wear skirts, is that it is distracting.

Sure, if Johnny wears a skirt to school,

the first, or second or third time it may be distracting,

but after a while, he will just be known as Johnny who wears skirts.

Maybe Johnny will be bullied, but if teachers reprimand such behavior,

and explain that dress is a part of our self expression,

and that is is okay for boys to wear skirts,

it will become just another normal thing.

Men wear skirts in Burma, and parts of Thailand,

and many other places I don't know about.

Women wear pants, and they didn't used to be allowed to.

Boys should be allowed to wear skirts to school.

I don't think the Public Education system is ready for it yet,

but it makes me happy that this issue is coming up, being talked about,

and written about in the NY times.

What do you think?