When religion and school uniform collide

[Deckard]

These stories seem to be getting more frequent. Here's one from today...

A Sikh teenager has won her High Court discrimination claim against her school which excluded her for breaking its "no jewellery" rule.

Sarika Singh, 14, from Cwmbach, south Wales was excluded in November 2007 from Aberdare Girls School for refusing to take off a religious bangle. The school claimed its no jewellery policy was fair to all.

Sarika says the Kara bangle - a slim steel bracelet - is important to her as it is a symbol of her Sikh faith.

As a result of the judgment, Sarika is allowed to return to Aberdare Girls School in September, wearing the Kara. The judge declared the school was guilty of indirect discrimination under race relations and equality laws.

Any thoughts on this?

Should schools be able to insist that rules on visible uniform and jewellery apply across the board, with no exemptions for religious pupils/students?

Or should there be exemptions, but with a line drawn somewhere? If so, where?

I guess it would have to be drawn in two areas:

(a) what we choose to class as a legitimate religion or matter of faith that warrants an exemption.

(b) what we permit in the exemption (a small cross? a bangle? a headscarf? a burqa? a full Jedi outfit?)

We've had a number of these stories over the last few years. I'm left wondering if they've always occurred but not been reported, or if something has changed in society. I know at the school I attended (20-25 years ago) the Sikh boys wore turbans, and the Exclusive Brethren girls wore headscarves. No-one seemed to have a problem with it, and I don't recall it ever being viewed as a matter of them receiving special treatment.

Chuck, if you're still filling time, I'd be interested to know what you think about this too.