The Plymouth-Canton school district has opted to allow Sikh students to wear a small, religious dagger to school.
The decision reverses a ban put in place in December after a fourth- grade boy at Bentley Elementary School in Canton was found with a dull 3- to 5-inch kirpan, a dagger that is a religious symbol baptized Sikh males are expected to carry. In Sikh tradition, the kirpan represents a commitment to fight evil. The principal initially let the boy keep the kirpan, but the school board instituted a ban because of concerns from parents and conflict with prohibitions against bringing weapons to school. On Friday, the district issued a note to parents describing conditions that would be in place to allow students to wear kirpans, beginning today: Any kirpan worn at school should be sewn inside a sheath in such a way that the blade cannot be removed from the sheath. The blade of the kirpan is restricted in length to no more than two and one-fourth inches. This would take the object outside the scope of the Revised School Code’s definition of a knife constituting a dangerous weapon. The blade of the kirpan must be dull. The kirpan should not be worn on the outside of the clothing and should not be visible in any way. It will not be the practice of staff members to conduct random searches for the possession of kirpans. However, students who violate any of the above will be subject to discipline including a prohibition on wearing the kirpan to school in the future. “While our school district is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all of our students, we must also balance the rights of students to express and practice their religion. In light of the strict scrutiny standard applied by Michigan courts in determining whether an individual’s right to freely exercise his or her religion has been violated, the district will amend its blanket restriction against wearing the kirpan in school,” according to the note to parents. On Sunday, school district officials met with the Sikh community at a gurdwara, the name for a Sikh religion center, in Canton. They listened to the community’s concerns and learned about the Sikh faith, said district spokesman Frank Ruggirello Jr. Earlier, the district had received letters from three national Sikh groups expressing their concerns about any ban on kirpans. Regarding the school’s policy, Ruggirello Jr. said, “I’m confident we got a good plan for the community…I think we found a happy medium.” There are at least three Sikh centers in western Wayne County — one each in Canton, Plymouth and Livonia. Contact Eric D. Lawrence: 313-223-4272 or [email protected]. Niraj Warikoo contributed to this report. On Feb 3, 6:59 pm, Tommy News <[email protected]> wrote: > Help us fight for Safe Schools in 2011 > > The story was everywhere, the problem of kids being bullied to death. > > Some States have been working to respond, with measures in New York, > New Jersey, and others passing into law, an or currently attempting to > move bills. But, states and local communities need help to make > inclusive safe schools for all students, teachers and families a > reality. > > Nationally, inclusive safe schools and bullying need help to be put > into focus for movement in 2011. > > But we can turn that around. > > February 4th, 2011 is the "100th day of School," a milestone > celebrated in most schools nationwide. > > On this day we at the Safe Schools Action Network are asking > bloggers/writers to help bring awareness to the issue of safe schools > and anti-bullying by writing about this issue on that day. We are > encouraging those that participate to write and speakOUT however they > see fit in their creative spaces. > > "100 Days of School, 100 > Days of Bullying" > > Some suggestions have been: > > Chose to tell a personal story of your own Offer space to a youth or > educator to tell a story Write to your old school, principal or > community paper as an alum > > This effort will help raise awareness and direct the conversation on > this issue on a day that is often highlighted in national media. A > message must be sent that too many kids are still at risk and that 100 > days without safe schools is 100 days too many. Students and youth > this day will also be encouraged to write to their school leaders and > other about the need for safe schools. We can Make It Better NOW. > > Despite the Republican's taking control of the House in the 112th > Congress, there is still significant hope we can see movement on bills > like the Student Non-Discrimination Act, and the Safe Schools > Improvement Act. But as Senator Al Franken said speaking on SNDA > > "It's not going to be an easy lift. You need to make us do this. Make > us do it. We need everyone's help to get the message out, that this is > a bill we've gotta pass, pass next year." - Senator Al Franken > > To have your blog or website listed in support that > day on our website please email us at : > [email protected] e-mail address is being protected > from spambots. 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