All Schools Need Rules And Regulation, But They Are Not Above The Law

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Sunday, 16 December 2007

Letter published in Wales On Sunday

Dec 16 2007

ALL schools need rules and regulations.

However, the issue regarding the right of a 14-year old Sikh girl to wear the Kara is one where Aberdare Girls’ School, the head teacher Jane Rosser, the governing body of the school and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council can’t ignore and be above the law.

Schools of all places, when made aware of racism, need to show a zero tolerance for such behaviour. However, it appears Aberdare Girls’ School when confronted with the issue not only went into denial, but itself started to single out and persecute Sarika Watkin-Singh for being different.

Last week Angharad Mair wrote an article headlined ‘So, why is Christmas cancelled at school?’ and was not sympathetic towards Sarika’s situation and critical of the support she is receiving from Ann Clwyd, the MP for Cynon Valley, and the civil rights organisation Liberty as more and more schools throughout the UK are dropping the nativity play in favour of a ‘seasonal celebration’.

Sikhs believe the nativity play should be encouraged and viewed positively and schools should, at different times of the year, raise awareness in school assemblies about different faiths.

In this case Aberdare Girls’ School should avoid wasting time and taxpayers’ money in trying to fight a legal battle that it will eventually lose and immediately reinstate Sarika so she is not denied her education.

BHAI AMRIK SINGH

Chair, Sikh Federation