London: In a bizarre decision, a school in Britain has banned a student from wearing a crucifix. The teenager was sent back home when she refused to oblige.
The decision was condemned as 'crazy' as Sikh students at the school were allowed to carry 'kirpan' and wear traditional metal bracelets (karas) because they were classified as religious symbols after relaxing the Offensive Weapons Act.
Sixteen-year-old Sam Morris was told by Howard Jones, deputy head of Sinfin Community School in Derby, that the tiny gold cross she has worn around her neck for three years was not a symbol of her faith, and nothing more than a trinket.
Sam who is studying for her GCSE missed two days' classes after being sent home when she refused to remove the crucifix and chain she was wearing.
"Most of our students understand allowing Sikhs to wear a bracelet is compulsory part of their religion. Christianity does not require followers to wear a specific symbol," Jones said.
Meanwhile, the Derby City Council said that it was lawful to ban crucifixes, but whether it is desirable or not is another matter.
Sam's mother accused officials of risking creating racial tensions by failing to apply the same ban to all groups. She said her daughter believed in God and should therefore be allowed to wear a symbol of Christianity.
She had reluctantly allowed her daughter to return to classes without the necklace after two days although she still plans to complain to the governors.
Harmander Singh, a Sikh who helped the Education Department to write guidelines, said that the Sikh community would support the right of a child to wear something that reminds him or her of religious values.
A prominent Christian and leading Tory MP Ann Widdecombe described the decision as 'crazy' and said Jones was 'utterly ignorant' if he thinks the cross is just costume jewellery.
John Midgely of 'Campaign Against Political Correctness' said that the school has to be extremely careful not to give the impression that they are undermining one faith while showing favour to another.
Earlier this year, hospitals in Leicester announced plans to ban Bibles from bedside cabinets for fear of offending non-Christians and staff removed a crucifix from a hospital chapel in Newham, east London.
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