School Board Reconsiders Ban Against Wearing of Sikh Dagger

LIVINGSTON, Calif. — School officials are trying to decide whether a dagger worn by members of a Hindu sect are a religious symbol that should be allowed on campus or a weapon that should be banned.

Last month, the school board ruled against what people of the Sikh faith call a kirpan. On Tuesday, the board agreed to reconsider.

Ram Singh of San Jose, a Sikh spokesman, has been given two weeks to show school officials a kind of compromise dagger--one that meets religious standards but cannot also be used as a weapon.

Members of the Sikh faith, which originated in northern India, usually wear the daggers under their clothing. Many are dulled and worn in sheathes strapped to their bodies.

In Livingston, a farm town in Merced County, five students have refused to come to school unless they are allowed to wear kirpans.

School board member Vernon Boyd said the previous ruling came after the board was shown a six-inch blade worn outside a student’s clothing.

Students of the Sikh faith have worn kirpans without incident for many years throughout the United States, Canada and England, Singh said.

About 100 people of the Sikh faith attend schools in Livingston, but only 10 have been baptized and wear kirpans. Since kirpans were banned at school, five started wearing religious medallions instead.