Sarika Watkins-Singh, excluded from school for wearing the kara, a wrist bangle which is an important expression of her Sikh faith, has just won her case at the High Court. I find it interesting that political correctness, originally an approach to language and behaviour intended to avoid exclusive or discriminatory attitudes and actions, becomes in some contexts, precisely that – exclusive and discriminatory.
Now I understand the school policy of prohibiting the wearing of jewellery -which suggests decorative and ornamental objects worn for cosmetic purposes. But I would have thought such a policy would accommodate the wearing of jewellery recognised as an expression of a person’s religious identity – Sikh, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other acknowledged faith traditions. As a Baptist Christian I have heightened sensitivity to infringements of religious liberty, and belong to a historic tradition that upholds the right of people to express their faith without fear of persecution. I don’t think for a minute the school intended to be discriminatory, though it has been found that Sarika was a victim of religious discrimination. And I don’t think the school intended to curtail Sarika’s religious liberty, though the consequence of a strictly applied blanket policy had that perhaps unintended consequence.
But when the policy was formulated why didn’t religious jewellery feature as an issue; in a pluralist multi-cultural ethos that question should now be standard. And if it had unintended consequences, why fight it in court – admit the flaw in the policy and sort it. Whether the veil, the cross, the kara, the yarmulche – the symbols of a faith tradition are not to be assessed on the same level of social significance as cosmetic jewellery. A school, of all places should be a place where that distinction is recognised and respected – how else teach young people tolerance, respect, and acceptance of the other person whose way of life is different. What is the message to a young Sikh woman if the only options are change your religious practice or be banned from school?
Following the court judgement Sarika said: “I am overwhelmed by the outcome
and it’s marvellous to know that the long journey I’ve been on has
finally come to an end. “I’m so happy to know that no-one else will go through what me and my family have gone through.”
She added: “I just want to say that I am a proud Welsh and Punjabi Sikh girl.”
Hope the school learns its lesson.
Leave a Reply