A student at Gildo Rey Elementary School in Auburn, Washington, has been permitted to carry around a religious knife called a Kirpan … while in school.
In the Sikh religion, the carrying of the Kirpan is one of the “most revered” of traditions.
“People will even wear it in the shower. It’s kind of hard for others to understand,” said Jaswinder Singh, spokesman for the Gurudwara Sikh Center of Seattle.
The concept of the Kirpan is taught to children at an early age. The dagger is considered an instrument of social justice.
“For the people who are formally initiated to the Kirpan, it’s very near and dear,” said Singh.
But is it appropriate to bring to school?
One school volunteer named Shelby, who asked her last name not be used, said respecting religion goes too far if it compromises student safety.
“There’s no way I’d go back until the knife was gone,” she said.
Shelby does not volunteer at Gildo Rey.
“They can’t take that thing into the airport. TSA would be all over it. Why is a school any different?” she asked.
District officials say state and federal guidelines allow them to make exceptions for the state’s “zero tolerance” policy on weapons.
They also note that plenty of Sikhs — students and staff — have carried Kirpans around “for years without incident.”
Auburn is located on the other side (south) of Seattle from the Marysville School District, the location of the fatal school shooting on Friday.
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