WHAT a strange, schizophrenic nation we are. First, I read that a girl in the Midlands has won the right to wear her national dress to school; a dress which is quite inappropriate for this climate and which is so all-enveloping that it will preclude her from all the sporting activities and freedom of movement which should be enjoyed by all our schoolgirls.

Then I read that one of our leading universities, Cambridge, has banned the wearing of national dress from its graduation ceremonies - a ceremony which traditionally involves flowing garments and significant headgear. This ban includes the kilt, which has evolved in this climate and which has always given the freedom of movement enjoyed by our own young men.

Whatever next?

Margaret Sutherland, 50 Buntine Crescent, St Ninians, Stirling.