The Rants of Issachar
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Kirpans in school
I was listening to "On the Coast" on Radio1 this afternoon on my drive home. Priya Ramu was interviewing a woman who represented the World Sikh Organization which has intervenor status at the Supreme Court hearing over a student wanting the right to carry his Kirpan at school despite the school's ban on weapons. (I think it's an elementary school). Sorry, no more details that I remember. I e-mailed the program to ask if they had any info online.
What struck me was the annoying sidestepping and question dodging that the woman was doing. The issue isn't that complicated. Sikh's want to carry Kirpan's everywhere as it's an article of faith for them. The school doesn't want students carrying knives at school. That's the problem. So find a solution.
One example of the dodging was when the host asked if the school was concerned that other students would see it as okay to bring a knife to school if the Kirpan was allowed. The woman responded that the Kirpan wasn't a knife and that if the Kirpan was used properly, (carried in it's sheath for instance), it's not dangerous. She also said that a sheath was not a knife for some reason. Well obviously it's not dangerous if it's used properly. The Kirpan isn't intended for stabbing students. The school's concern is obviously about precedent and the possibility that the Kirpan might be used improperly. Such as another student taking the Kirpan and misusing it.
What was completely lacking from the womans statements was any suggestion on how the school's concerns might be satisfied while still satisfying the requirements of Sikhism. For instance, could the Kirpan be carried in a sheath that was stiched up tightly so that the Kirpan couldn't be removed without cutting away the stitching? What about putting a lock on the sheath? What about a dull blade? I have no idea if these ideas are acceptable in Sikhism, but I would have thought that a person who's explaining the issue on the radio would be more interested in showing willingness to satisfy the concerns of the school board. It seems a little too much like "I won't give an inch no matter how reasonable that giving inch might be" behaviour.
Are we surprised that school officials are a little leary of allowing something in a school that would be seen as a weapon by many people? That a school board might not want to be seen as soft on weapons in schools in this day and age?
What struck me was the annoying sidestepping and question dodging that the woman was doing. The issue isn't that complicated. Sikh's want to carry Kirpan's everywhere as it's an article of faith for them. The school doesn't want students carrying knives at school. That's the problem. So find a solution.
One example of the dodging was when the host asked if the school was concerned that other students would see it as okay to bring a knife to school if the Kirpan was allowed. The woman responded that the Kirpan wasn't a knife and that if the Kirpan was used properly, (carried in it's sheath for instance), it's not dangerous. She also said that a sheath was not a knife for some reason. Well obviously it's not dangerous if it's used properly. The Kirpan isn't intended for stabbing students. The school's concern is obviously about precedent and the possibility that the Kirpan might be used improperly. Such as another student taking the Kirpan and misusing it.
What was completely lacking from the womans statements was any suggestion on how the school's concerns might be satisfied while still satisfying the requirements of Sikhism. For instance, could the Kirpan be carried in a sheath that was stiched up tightly so that the Kirpan couldn't be removed without cutting away the stitching? What about putting a lock on the sheath? What about a dull blade? I have no idea if these ideas are acceptable in Sikhism, but I would have thought that a person who's explaining the issue on the radio would be more interested in showing willingness to satisfy the concerns of the school board. It seems a little too much like "I won't give an inch no matter how reasonable that giving inch might be" behaviour.
Are we surprised that school officials are a little leary of allowing something in a school that would be seen as a weapon by many people? That a school board might not want to be seen as soft on weapons in schools in this day and age?
3 Comments:
Posted by: 
krisThat's very interesting. It reminds me of the controversy over driver's license pictures a few years, when Muslim women did not want to remove their face coverings for the pictures.
In some sense, just about anything could be a weapon - a cross could, perhaps, just as easily hurt someone. But the safety of the general public must be the concern - I mean, even if the Sikh who carries the knife and respects its purpose does not use it to harm someone, another kid could easily take the knife from him, and use it to hurt someone.
krisThat's very interesting. It reminds me of the controversy over driver's license pictures a few years, when Muslim women did not want to remove their face coverings for the pictures.In some sense, just about anything could be a weapon - a cross could, perhaps, just as easily hurt someone. But the safety of the general public must be the concern - I mean, even if the Sikh who carries the knife and respects its purpose does not use it to harm someone, another kid could easily take the knife from him, and use it to hurt someone.
Posted by: 
I am doing a project for school and I have to debate that Kirpans should not be carried around in schools. I think that putting all the kids at a possible risk is unacceptable. Even if they say it is not used for stabbing there is still a chance that it could occur.
I am doing a project for school and I have to debate that Kirpans should not be carried around in schools. I think that putting all the kids at a possible risk is unacceptable. Even if they say it is not used for stabbing there is still a chance that it could occur.
Posted by: issacharI was part of the debate club in high school and we always had to debate both sides. We'd argue one side at a tournament and then go into another room 15 minutes later and argue to opposite side. (Against another team). It really helped you find the flaws in your thinking.
issacharI was part of the debate club in high school and we always had to debate both sides. We'd argue one side at a tournament and then go into another room 15 minutes later and argue to opposite side. (Against another team). It really helped you find the flaws in your thinking.
