But Christian kids get in trouble for praying in school or saying Jesus is their hero?
From The Seattle Times
Religious dagger OK at Auburn elementary school
Assistant Superintendent Ryan Foster reiterated the policy after KING-TV (http://kng5.tv/ZOVg4d ) reported about one boy being allowed to wear the small dagger at Gildo Ray Elementary.
Foster told The Associated Press that a long-standing district policy allows the daggers to be worn under the clothing of observant Sikhs.
"It can't create a disruption of the learning environment," Foster said.
The knife, called a kirpan, is considered an instrument of social justice in the Sikh religion, and is one of five articles of faith worn by observant Sikhs. The blades are typically dull and range from 3 to 9 inches long, according to the New York-based Sikh Coalition.
Rajdeep Singh, the group's policy director, said the issue of kirpans in schools doesn't often come up, because not all Sikhs wear them and others wear them under their clothes.
He noted that the items are probably less dangerous than the scissors that elementary school students in Auburn are required to bring to class.
"It would be helpful to remind parents that this is not a weapon," he said.
Many agencies across the nation have created policies that accommodate the ceremonial knives, the coalition said. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Protective Service allows kirpan-carrying Sikhs into federal buildings, it said.
"This is not something that's new to us or most districts in the area," Foster said.
3 comments:
At the very least, Muslims ought to be allowed to carry very sharp swords to school.
It's in the Koran.
What is asinine is that run-of-the-mill kids get suspended for accidentally having a plastic knife in their lunchbox and, my favorite, the 5 year old little girl whom school administrators wanted to see a psychologist because she made a pwew pwew sound will holding a crayon. The mom said "No" Good for her!
About time religious freedom is granted. As a deeply orthodox Russian I feel as naked as a Saudi in a bikini without that essential article of orthodox faith, the sacred Kalashnikov commemorating the 47 martyrs.
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