Religion in the public school district is an interminable issue. While I am a major advocate for freedom of religion, that freedom should not be so free when it compromises students’ safety.
On Oct. 23 in Auburn, Washington, an Auburn School district official announced that students and staff of the Sikh faith who attend Gildo Rey Elementary School would be allowed to wear ceremonial knives, known as kirpans, for religious reasons. Part of the decision states that students who choose to carry kirpans must keep the dagger in its sheath at all times and keep it under their clothing.
While it is refreshing to hear that a district is making decisions aimed toward religious freedom, it is also shocking that a school district would allow students to bring in knives, even if it is for religious reasons.
Kirpans are considered religious symbols of social justice in Sikhism that stand for spirituality and represent defending the weak on God’s behalf. The kirpan is one of the five k’s — a group of symbols worn by Sikhs who have been baptized into the religion. They symbols include Kesh, Kara, Kanga, Kaccha and Kirpan, which stand for uncut hair, a steel bracelet, a wooden comb, cotton underwear and a steel sword, respectively.
A main aspect of Sikhism is living honestly and working hard at all times while keeping God in mind. Traditionally, if Sikhs do not utilize the five k’s at all times, they are not reprimanded for it as long as they still abide by the religion’s values.
With that in mind, it is hard to believe that it would be a large issue for Sikh elementary students to leave the kirpan at home while they are at school. Even though the students carrying the kirpans may not use them as weapons or attempt to remove them from their sheaths, there is no telling what other students may do, especially when they are so young and may not know better.
Auburn school officials have stated that there are many students and faculty at Gildo Rey Elementary School who have carried kirpans in the past without any problems; however, many schools have faced disastrous incidents that occurred without any prior problems within the school. Accidents are not planned, and that is why most people do not expect problems to develop from things that can “potentially” be dangerous to others. Incidents occur when they are least expected, especially when it involves elementary-aged children who may or may not know better.
Younger kids are known for being curious, and many times grabby, with stuff they don’t know about. Children are generally taught to respect objects that do not belong to them and to be curious about things that they do not understand, but there are times when those two lessons are crossed. Those instances are when mistakes occur, and who is to say that a student won’t take the kirpan from its owner? Or that the student carrying the kirpan won’t go to the bathroom and show all of his friends?
There are so many possible outcomes when it comes to permitting a student to carry a weapon — whether it is for religious reasons or not. Although religious freedom is an incredible thing that should always be considered, it should not interfere with the overall safety of a population. If Sikhism states that followers will not be reprimanded for not carrying a kirpan while at school, then it is not necessary to carry one during school hours. You never know what children will do when they see a kirpan or how well the owner of the kirpan will obey the rules of the school. The risks here outweigh the benefits. Freedom of religion is not an excuse for loss of safety, and it should not be considered in that way.
