Dec 16, 2010: A Bentley Elementary School fourth-grader and his family have agreed to remove a religious item normally required to be worn by their Sikh religion until Plymouth-Canton Community Schools officials can figure out the best way — legally and otherwise — to handle it.
The boy was found last week wearing a Kirpan, a dagger-like instrument meant to prevent violence and defend the defenseless, while playing with classmates during recess last week. The presence of the dagger was reported to school officials, and Bentley principal Jerry Meier examined the Kirpan. He determined the boy could continue wearing it after his examination revealed no sharp edges.
At least one classmate reported the incident to his parents, who raised the issue with school officials. After lengthy discussions between district officials and the family, the boy agreed not to wear the Kirpan until the issue was settled.
The boys' family told Meier that when someone is baptized into the Sikh religion, they're ordered to wear the Kirpan at all times as a showing of faith, not as a weapon. The boy was wearing it on a long chain around his neck, covered completely by his clothing, according to Frank Ruggirello, the district's director of community relations.
According to the Sikh religion, the Kirpan is symbolic, and its meaning is to prevent violence and defend the defenseless.
“(Meier) examined it closely, and it has nothing sharp,” said Frank Ruggirello, the district's director of community relations. “We're reaching out to religious experts and talking to our attorneys and determine the best way to handle the situation to satisfy everyone.”
Canton resident Tina Barbee, whose son reported the presence of the Kirpan, was distressed the district was originally going to let the student continue wearing the Kirpan, which she considers a weapon.
“What if someone takes this away from this child and decides to hurt someone?” Barbee told WDIV Friday. “Who's to say that all Sikh children are stable? If there were just one style of kirpan, and it was small and blunt, and it was the only one that's available, I'd say let's consider making an exception to the rule.
“But when I went online and see the variety of Kirpans available, and I have a kid starting high school next year, and it scares me.”
Ruggirello acknowledged the district has a zero-tolerance policy on bringing weapons to school. However, he said, officials don't recognize the Kirpan as a weapon and so the boy will be allowed to return to class wearing the Kirpan.
Ruggirello said that, while Barbee was the only parent to complain formally as of Saturday morning, the district would reach out to all parents in the district to apprise them of the situation.