Anna Fairclough: The lessons all schools need to learn from this judgment
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
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Sarika Watkins-Singh, a 14- year-old Welsh-Punjabi Sikh, was forbidden from wearing her kara, a 5mm-wide plain steel bangle, to her state school. Because of her decision to continue wearing it, she was taught in complete segregation from other pupils for almost two months, banned from speaking to friends at school and even escorted to the toilet by a teacher, who waited outside.
Sarika won her case convincingly and hopefully schools will take note of the core messages in the judgment. The first of these is about individual freedom and the rights of minorities. You need a very good reason to interfere with the rights of individuals to express their identity and none was forthcoming in this case. Second, one size does not fit all. To achieve true equality, people in different situations sometimes have to be treated differently. Third, schools should seek to prevent racism by teaching students to value and respect difference, not by requiring minority groups to conform to the mainstream model.
This judgment does not mean all groups everywhere are always permitted to wear items representing their faith. But, hopefully, this will bring to a halt the perception that all religious items can lawfully be banned. Nor does this judgment only apply to Sikhs, who are recognised in law as a racial, as well as a religious group. Since the advent of the Equality Act 2006, all religions are protected in exactly the same way.
Anna Fairclough, Liberty's legal officer, represented the Singhs
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This outcome is complete nonsence and further evidence of insidious religious fundamentalism creeping into every area of socitey. Nobody should be allowed to opt out of the laws/rules which apply to their area of school/work etc. simply on the basis of an unsuportable belief system or any other psuedo religious mumbo jumbo. Who decides what constitutes a relegion, "I want to wear my football team's replica shirt to school because Chelsea is my religion", totally ridiculous yes but at least in this circumstance one is worshiping something which can be supported in fact and truth. When will a fundamentalist Christian doctor who refuses to treat a gay man claim that their religion over rides the Hyppocratic oath?
Also this girl is 14 years old, at this age how can anybody know in their mind that they have these very strong beleifs. Surely nobody can be so deeply religious until they are old enough to question, not at 14. She seems to be a mouthpiece for other religious extremists.
Posted by Peter F | 30.07.08, 08:09 GMT
There are schools without Polish children the length and breadth of Britain because of creative banning of Catholic sacaramentals. In the Orange/Green world of Scotland and Ulster, teachers can't afford to play with a box of matches & petrol.
Of course in England and Wales, it is all great fun at the taxpayers expense. Getting rid of the Poles is also a resource saver, if not exactly a fair payback for the Polish pilots who tooks to the skies when Britain looked like a doomed enterprise.
Posted by Gregory Carlin | 30.07.08, 01:58 GMT
The British let the Sikhs wear these symbols for 150 years. Nearly a million Sikhs fought for Britain in the World Wars and they were encouraged to wear these symbols. Sikhs won 22 Victoria Crosses for outstanding bravery - more than any other ethnic group. There was even a Royal Navy Battleship - HMS Sikh, sunk by the Nazis in the Mediterannean. The Brits gave Sikhs special rights for their loyalty, rights which are now extended to other groups in the spirit of tolerance. Another issue that was laughable was that all students are taught about the Sikh symbols and what they stand for in RE lessons, but can they practice their faith or is it just limited to something taught in a classroom?
Posted by Gary Singh | 30.07.08, 00:21 GMT