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Summary of Question:	Kirpan In School?
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Monday, 8/20/2001 7:15 PM MDT

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Heya, I'm a 15 year old amritthari boy studying in a high school in California. My school reopened today and I received a Zero Tolerance Policy from my school stating that Knife (any kind) is not allowed in School. Who ever will break the policy by bringing knife in the school will be suspended from school. As an amritthari I have to wear my Kirpan at all times and kirpan is also a kind of knife. What should I do? I'm the only Singh in my family so I cannot ask anyone else for help. Please reply soon, until then I'm continuing to wear the kirpan or should I just keep on wearing until someone comes to know about it? Today was the first day of school and I had to sign the paper us, it was required to get a schedule. Please try to contact me as soon as you can. My email address is in the email box above or you can contact me on Sikhnet chat. My id is SonofGuruGobindSinghJi .

AKAL AKAL AKAL AKAL AKAL

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal Ji.

The last thing you need is trouble with your school. The zero tolerance policy is there for good reason, but do not take it personally. it is not religious discrimination.

There are kirpans you can get that are not real blades, but represent kirpans in shape. You know, the small stainless steel ones that you can wear around your neck, and that are often used by Amritdhari Sikhs when they go on airplanes. I know a lot of Amritdhari Sikhs don't like these, but in this country (USA) they cover the requirement for keeping the K of Kirpan, without causing unnecessary legal difficulties in places such as schools with Zero Tolerance. Yes, you could hide it, but sooner or later someone is likely to know that you as a Sikh carry a kirpan, or someone will see it accidentally, you know? Is it worth the risk of expulsion?

The problem is, if you wear your kirpan --and even if it has no sharp blade -- you cannot be given an exception because others who are not Sikh are likely to try to bend the rules and carry real blades, or use you as an example and generally create trouble with the school administration. "Well that Sikh gets to wear a knife, so I thought I would." Can you imagine it?

Yes, you could protest this matter to the principal, and show it to them to prove it is more or less harmless and worn as part of your religious practice, but still you must understand the position this puts them in when dealing with troublesome types in the student body. And, looking at it through THEIR eyes, if they don't know your character, then how can they be certain that one day you won't wear a real, sharp-bladed kirpan and cause trouble with it?

I am all for educating others as to Sikhs' religious rights, but schools (and airports, for that matter) represent a different situation entirely. I can tell you as a Sikh, if I were a school administrator in today's school environment, I would have to say one cannot wear anything to school that makes others think you are wearing a real, bladed knife/kirpan, no matter what it means to us as Sikhs.

I highly recommend you find a suitable (small) steel HARMLESS kirpan that you can wear during school around your neck or in your pocket, and then make CERTAIN that your teachers and principal know what it is and why you wear it. You can still use this as an opportunity to educate others about Sikh religious practice.

You could, also, legally and formally go on record, if you want, as protesting this policy, and refuse to obey it. It would be an education for all, and then everyone would know you/Sikhs wear a kirpan. This option is not easy and could affect your studies, your degree, and any number of other factors in your life. The choice is yours. But remember that zero tolerance is NOT targeted to Sikhs and is not, in effect, religious discrimination or intolerance the way other situations in USA involving turbans or kirpans have been.

I still think you will otherwise have to abide by the policy. I know it seems un-Sikh to do this, but I think that it is setting an example of maturity and wisdom to recognize that this policy is in effect for the many, and to recognize that the needs of the many (safety of all students) outweigh the needs of the one (you).

Good luck. Guru ang sang,
-DKK


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USER FEEDBACK
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WJKK, WJKF:

For those young amritdhari Sikhs in California, you should know that your right to wear a kirpan in school in protected under a ruling by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 9th district. Several years ago, there was a case brought by three amrtidhari children in Livingston against the Livingston Unified School District. The school district suspended the students upon learning that they were wearing kirpans and were told that they could not return until they removed their kirpans. The ACLU took up the case on behalf of the family and argued that the wearing of the kirpan was in fact protected under the 1st amendment of the United States Constitution. After a couple of years of working its way through the courts, it made it to the 9th circuit court of appeals which has jurisdiction for most of the western United States. The justices ruled that the school district had in fact violated the children's 1st amendment right, and must allow the children to return to school provided that the kirpan was worn in a manner so as not to be disruptive the educational process. I would encourage anyone who may be facing a similiar situation to refer to the ACLU's website where you can find additional information by typing in "sikh" or "kirpan" in the Search option. Or you can visit the following link: http://www.aclu.org/news/n061297b.html for additional details.

If you are wearing a kirpan in school, you should try to be upfront with the school administrators as I found this to work the best for me. Educating them is key, but make sure you get your facts straight. If they challenge you, and threaten to suspend or expell you, don't cave in. You have help. While I do not agree with everything the ACLU does, they were a great asset to the Sikh community in California with the whole kirpan issue. I hope this information will be helpful to all young sikhs both here in California and throughout the United States.

WJKK,WJKF!

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THANK YOU Thank you for this information!
-DKK