Oh good grief. I’ve had a jackknife in my pocket since about when I was 12.

One enabled me to operate an elevator… My current, which has travelled with me around the country and planet, enabled a young couple and child to make the English Channel ferry when they locked the keys in their car.

Another mountain fashioned from a molehill, IMO.

The purpose of matches is not to start fires, yet arsonists still use them to ignite buildings. Does that mean we ban all matches? The purpose of social media is not to spread hate speech, yet some users still engage in it. Does that mean we ban all social media platforms? The purpose of airplanes is not to crash into buildings, yet terrorists have used them for such purposes. Does that mean we ban all airplanes? The purpose of a car is not to run people over, yet a few crazy people still do it. Does that mean we ban all cars? How can you assume that kirpans are just knives? Comparing kirpans to common knives oversimplifies their significance. Kirpans hold profound religious and cultural significance for the Sikh community, symbolizing values such as protection, justice, and equality. They are not mere weapons but rather sacred articles of faith deeply integrated into Sikh identity and spirituality. I’ve seen several news reports where students have stabbed their classmates with pens or scissors, so why don’t we ban those? I too “believe Hopkinton schools should adopt the same policy as the US Treasury’s Secret Service” because they do allow Kirpans in all federal buildings—something that you weren’t able to fact-check.

I appreciate author’s concern about safety of schools like all the parents, including Sikh parents. I encourage author to engage with Sikh community members to dive deep into the facts.

The 2.5-3 inches kirpan is an article of faith with unsharpened blade, and is always kept in a case. Many school districts in the country and abroad allow it. Thousands of Sikh kids wear it to school across the world every day while one unfortunate incident is being used to make the case here. Many federal buildings allow kirpans and acceptance is increasing every year.

Even though it might have author’s intention, but the kirpan show in the article is 9 inches at least creating unnecessary fear.

Lets engage in a dialog, understand the significance and build an accepting & diverse community in Hopkinton.

In response to Peter Thomas’s opinion piece on prohibiting kirpans in schools, it’s crucial to address the significant misinterpretation of both the Sikh faith and constitutional protections for religious freedom. The kirpan, a mandatory article of faith for initiated Sikhs, represents not a weapon, but an article of faith that reminds a Sikh to uphold justice and defend the oppressed. This is grounded in a religious tradition practiced by thirty-million followers worldwide, representing the fifth largest religion in the world.

Mr. Thomas’s stance, while rooted in concerns for safety, overlooks the broader context of religious liberty as protected under the First Amendment. The right to freely practice one’s religion has been a fundamental and unalienable right for Americans, tracing back to the arrival of the Puritan Pilgrims, who were fleeing religious persecution, at Plymouth Rock in 1620. The United States has a longstanding tradition of accommodating religious practices, even in sensitive environments. This is evident in various accommodations made for kirpan-wearing Sikhs across government buildings, workplaces, and educational institutions. Notably, the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, and numerous federal and state buildings have policies that facilitate the entry of kirpan-wearing Sikhs. Specifically, as quoted in the Sikh Coalition’s “Sikhism in Sikh Kirpan Fact Sheet”:

• In 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service (FPS) instituted a kirpan accommodation policy that facilitates the entry of kirpan-wearing Sikhs into the 9,000+ federal buildings that FPS secures.

• The White House, the Hart Senate Building, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice, federal trial and appellate courts, and the California State Capitol Building in Sacramento have all provided accommodations to kirpan-carrying Sikhs.

• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has litigated and favorably settled at least two separate cases under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protecting the right of Sikhs to wear kirpans in the workplace. See EEOC v. Heartland Employment Services, LLC d/b/a ManorCare Health Services-Citrus Heights, Case No. 2:08-cv-00460-FCD-DAD (E.D. Cal. consent decree entered May 2010); EEOC v. Healthcare and Retirement Corp. of America d/b/a Heartland Health Care Center – Canton, Case No. 07-13670 (E.D. Mich. consent decree entered Dec. 2009).

It is also important to note that public school districts and universities across the country have successfully provided accommodations for Sikh students to wear kirpans. These accommodations are made in recognition of the fact that many everyday objects found in schools, such as scissors, compasses used in geometry classes, and boxcutters, can pose similar if not greater risks than a sheathed kirpan. Furthermore, the legal framework in the United States consistently supports the wearing of the kirpan, recognizing its religious significance and the non-violent intent of its bearers. Notably, Mr. Thomas was unable to cite a single kirpan-related incident in American schools in the past 121 years of Sikhs’ arrival in the United States.

In conclusion, mischaracterizing the kirpan as a weapon and advocating for its prohibition in schools undermines the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom for Sikhs and all Americans alike. Adopting a nuanced and well-informed stance that acknowledges the kirpan’s profound symbolic and religious value, while also addressing safety considerations is the best way forward. The initiative by the Hopkinton School Committee and the Superintendent of Hopkinton Public Schools to devise a policy that honors religious freedoms while safeguarding student welfare deserves commendation. Judge Painter, who served in the United Nations Appeals Tribunal and presided over a kirpan-related case in Ohio, succinctly captured the essence of this issue, stating, “To be a Sikh is to wear a kirpan — it is that simple. It symbolizes religion, not a weapon.”

Taking an argument to reductio ad absurdum isn’t helpful, it can just as easily be applied the opposite way – all Massachusetts males between 16-60 were required to join the militia and be armed so we should allow guns in schools. Lets not reinvent the wheel, the issue has come up before and worked with the Sikh community and educators and if we are to allow the Kirpan we should follow the Sikh community guidelines – it should not be carried by those who have not been through the Amrit ceremony and have a certificate showing they have; it should not be carried by those under age of 16; it should be a symbol and therefore non-drawable (sealed, glued, cabled so that it cannot be fully drawn, etc); it can be symbolic and therefore quite small 1.5″ total length – however if the local community doesn’t feel a symbol is appropriate it should not be over 6″ total length, should not be sharpened and preferably non-drawable; those who will wear it should present their Amrit ceremony certificate to the school for copying and filing and demonstrate their Kirpan is compliant (Information from the Network of Sikh Organisations, 2017).

When discussing the First Amendment, it’s evident that its interpretation has been both broadened and narrowed over the years, with each Supreme Court case adding layers to its understanding. Among these, the ruling in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) stands as a significant affirmation of students’ rights to non-disruptive expression within educational settings. This landmark decision underscored that students do not relinquish their First Amendment rights “at the schoolhouse gate.” The case highlighted the protection of symbolic speech, exemplified by students wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War, under the First Amendment.

The First Amendment’s specific language, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,” places the exercise of religion alongside other fundamental rights, including the freedom of speech, which laws cannot unduly restrict. Thus, the Tinker decision directly impacts not only our freedom of speech and expression but also our freedom to exercise religion, reinforcing the notion that these freedoms do not pause at the school’s threshold.

Considering this, a 3-inch blade, subject to policies such as being dulled and concealed under clothing, functions as a symbol of faith rather than an overt weapon—akin to a laptop, a pen, or even a metal water bottle in terms of potential for disruption—does not hinder the learning environment. Instead, it connects to religious faith as intimately as a cross on a chain, a religious head covering, or the wearing of ethnic clothing. In discussions about the Kirpan, it’s essential to remember it symbolizes religious faith, not a weapon, maintaining its place within the sphere of protected religious expression as affirmed by Supreme Court precedent.

If you think a 2.5 inch dull Kirpan is dangerous then look through reality. You see dangerous objects all the time in School. You put Scissors in the hands of little kids. You put Scissors and Scalpels in the hands of Middle Schoolers. And you put Scissors, Scalpels and Geometry Dividers in the hands of High Schoolers. All those are sharper than the type of Kirpan we are agreeing upon with the District. As a Sikh who has been baptized and wears the Kirpan I understand your concern. This is something that is not very known to everyone yet. But please understand that since 1699 we have kept the Kirpan worn (when baptized) and it is a religious article of faith. But to say it is simply a knife, to show a picture of a bigger Kirpan that Sikh kids will definitely not wear to school and write this article in a manner that Sikhs may take offensive and disrespectful is not ok. Parnaz made a very valid point that this is non – negotiable because we have to wear it (If baptized). I just want you to know that this reply has no means to offend or disrespect you and the intent is rather to educate you.

With genuine respect, a Kirpan is a knife. Ceremonial or otherwise, it’s a knife. Putting safety concerns aside, it doesn’t seem fair or reasonable to allow one group to carry these devices – ceremonial or otherwise – while forbidding others.

There’s an initiation ritual for Sikh follows. Okay. What about teens who have completed Scouts training? Those who might have jobs by 16 years of age, for whom it makes sense to carry a knife as a tool (camp councilor, life guard, JROTC, etc.)? Some towns have junior programs for teens as young as 14 to start learning the ropes as a firefighter, and it’s the rare firefighter who doesn’t carry a knife or multi-tool on them at all times. It might be a core part of their identity for which they are-or-have received training, even accreditation or certification.

Should those kids be allowed to do the same? If not, why not?

Before the inevitable responses accumulate that I’m being insensitive or not understanding the importance of carrying Kirpans for Sikhs, I’m of the opinion we’ve gone overboard in promoting safety over common sense. But it’s unreasonable to have class of students whereby the rules operate differently due to religious considerations.

The characterization of the kirpan as a weapon overlooks critical facts about its design and purpose. The kirpan is a ceremonial object mandated by Sikh religious tradition. Its significance lies in its representation of Sikh values, serving as a symbol of protection, justice, and readiness to defend the oppressed. To equate it solely with a common knife ignores its religious and cultural context.

Numerous schools and federal buildings have successfully accommodated kirpan-wearing Sikhs without compromising safety. For example, in 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service instituted a kirpan accommodation policy, allowing kirpan-wearing Sikhs access to over 9,000 federal buildings under their jurisdiction.

Similarly, accommodations have been made in various state and federal institutions, including the White House, the Hart Senate Building, and federal trial and appellate courts, recognizing the religious significance of the kirpan while ensuring security measures are upheld.

Banning kirpans in schools would not only violate the constitutional rights of Sikhs but also undermine the principle of religious freedom enshrined in the First Amendment. The right to freely practice one’s religion, including the observance of religious articles and symbols, is fundamental in a democratic society.

With reference to article mentioning incident where Secret Service did not allow Sikh delegation to wear Kirpan while meeting The Pope

Over the years many Sikh delegations have met The Pope and not only worn the Kirpan but also presented the Pope with a Kirpan. The link below shares the most recent pictures of such event from Nov 2023.

https://asianlite.com/2023/top-news/pope-to-uae-sikhs-faith-and-service-are-intimately-linked/

• While it’s understandable to prioritize safety concerns, it’s essential to recognize the nuanced differences between the responsibilities of the US Treasury’s Secret Service and educational institutions like Hopkinton schools. The Secret Service operates in high-security environments where the primary focus is on protecting public officials and ensuring national security.

• However, educational institutions have a different mandate, one that encompasses not only safety but also the promotion of diversity, inclusion, and respect for religious freedoms. Basing school policies solely on security concerns without considering the religious rights of students can lead to discrimination and the infringement of constitutional liberties.

It’s also essential to recognize the positive contributions of the Sikh community, as acknowledged by Pope Francis, who praised the selfless service of the Sikh community. The links below showcases the Pope’s recognition of the Sikh community’s dedication to serving others, highlighting the need to foster mutual respect and understanding among diverse religious groups.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-11/pope-receives-sikh-delegation-from-united-arab-emirates.html

https://www.exaudi.org/pope-francis-praises-the-selfless-service-of-the-sikh-community/

Instead of perpetuating stereotypes, it’s imperative to engage in informed dialogue and foster mutual understanding. Recognizing and respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all individuals contributes to a more inclusive and harmonious community. By embracing diversity and upholding religious freedoms, schools like Hopkinton can create an environment where every student feels valued and respected.

Incidents happen in schools all the time. I faintly remember a girl stabbing her classmate in the eye with a blue-tipped ballpoint pen in my own school. It was horrifying, but after that, are you going to ban pens? Of course not! To even begin to confront a case like that, you would first have to look at the circumstances and context around which it occurred. In my case, the girl’s classmate had been relentlessly taunting her the whole year, and the girl snapped. Before misrepresenting a case by inserting a bold headline, you should first introduce the context around the incident, which was, in this case, a fistfight that escalated—not some planned attack. Not only that, but you should not base your claim on one isolated incident. What you are doing with this article is the same as trying to ban pens. This incident is the only reported incident of a stabbing with a Kirpan. Trying to make a claim as bold as this without enough evidence to support it is clearly invalid.

While these claims are reasonable, they falter when placed under a Sikh viewpoint. It’s well known to us that Kirpan is a 3-inch, dulled, curved, and sheathed ceremonial knife. It holds true that it can be used to harm another, it’s unlikely. It would be a hasty generalization to assume that these incidents would repeatedly occur if kirpans were allowed at school. Not to mention, kirpans are traditionally kept by Sikhs who have taken Amrit, or in other words, have been baptized. To achieve this at a young age shows deep devotion to religion, and a lot of self-discipline. So, it’s improbable that kirpans would be utilized violently by these kids. Seeing that many Sikh children and adults all over the world do in fact carry their kirpans to school and work safely every day, I believe that permitting Sikh kids to wear their kirpans at school is feasible and sound.

Respectfully, I understand the concern about weapons in schools and the need for a strict policy to maintain safety. However, it’s important to consider the unique cultural and religious significance of the kirpan for Sikh students. The kirpan is not merely a weapon but a religious symbol worn as an article of faith by Sikhs, representing their commitment to justice, equality, and protection of others.
Banning kirpans outright would not only infringe upon the religious freedoms of Sikh students but also overlook the fact that kirpans are typically ceremonial and not intended for harm.
Rather than a knee-jerk reaction to ban all knives, it would be more productive to work with the Sikh community to establish guidelines that ensure the safety of all students while respecting their religious rights.
By fostering understanding and cooperation, we can create a school environment that values diversity and inclusion while also prioritizing safety for all students and staff.

So I’ve had a pocket knife on my person since I was old enough to wear pants. I went to school at a vocational school in Framingham we were aloud to wear buck knifes. Folding 4” + knifes on belt sheaths. I understand they are no longer allowed. Although brought up Christian can see other religions and religious traditions. I have no problem with allowing a religious knife provided it mechanically made inoperable. If that’s not feasible then allow all to be armed.

Although this is a valid concern, the main reason why Sikhs wear Kirpans is being overlooked. The kirpan obligates a Sikh to the ideals of generosity, compassion, and service to humanity. It acts as a reminder to its wearer of their Sikh’s solemn duty to protect the weak and promote justice for all. The kirpan also plays an important role in Sikh practices. As stated in many other comments, the kirpan is significantly less dangerous than many other school supplies. The name of the article is also very misleading. A kirpan should not hold the same connotation as a knife. A knife can be used to harm, while a kirpan is used to protect. This reply has no intnent to disrespect you, just encourage everyone to do more research before making claims such as this.

Kirpans, symbolic to the Sikh religion, carry much spiritual significance and serve as a reminder of the commitment to protect the innocent and uphold justice. Banning kirpans from public schools outright violate the very right to the first amendment exercised by Sikh students in public schools. It’s imperative to recognize that the kirpan, when worn responsibly, poses no threat to safety. Moreover, as many others have mentioned, a scissor, which is an ordinary classroom necessity, can also potentially be used to harm someone, but would it be banned from schools? Rather than banning kirpans, schools should promote dialogue and education about diverse religious practices, fostering an environment of respect and acceptance for all faiths.

This is a response which was made my someone who clearly did not make any effort into understanding understanding the Sikh community and it’s traditions. First of all the Kirpan is worn on a daily basis only by amritdhari Sikhs, which is a ceremony which is highly regulated. You can’t just walk in, take amrit, and leave… and there are many rules of conduct that must be followed. The culture around carrying Kirpan is sacred and there is enormous significance and responsibility that comes with Amrit. Sikhs want the schools to understand this tradition and to work together to uphold these values in keeping with Sikh traditions and student safety. The Kirpan is not about just carrying a weapon around, it is sacred and dull. Scissors are sharper, and those are allowed in schools. There is a conduct around carrying scissors, and thus we can also develop a conduct around Kirpan. People are uncomfortable with the idea of because of articles like which don’t make a understanding the culture around it. In the Punjabi language, kirpan doesn’t translate to knife. The word is actually derived from the Punjabi word for mercy, and is only used to refer to ceremonial/religious blade. Think how we don’t use the word knife to refer to scissors even though scissors are essentially knives with handles. There is no connotation in the word scissors with knives or anything dangerous, just as how a kirpan has no such connotation in Punjabi language, it is only kirpan. (Please see part 2)

(Part 2…please see part 1 under my name) In fact, the direct translation of the word knife in Punjabi is Chaku.
So there is clearly a difference between these two concepts in Punjabi, the language spoken by most Sikhs. Kirpans worn on a daily basis are significantly smaller than the photo that was added in the article, which again highlights the mischaracterization of the tradition. The kirpan in Sikhism is a symbol of justice and equality. Let all of the diversity and inclusion initiatives in Hopkinton not be in vain. In America, we have a habit of oversimplifying equality initiatives to things like skin color or race and while it is important to address these issues, it is also important to address equity when it comes to spiritual and cultural diversity. In most areas of American society, there is a strong assimilation culture when it comes to such ideas, with religious and cultural traditions being expected to be relegated to the homes or practiced only on holidays. Visible signs of non-western identities such as the kirpan, which is worn daily and has no western equivalent, still have very little acceptance in the United States. Please expand your minds to understand our people’s traditions within our own context.

Students who have been baptised into the Sikh faith have made a commitment to wearing the five symbols of the faith. These symbols include a kirpan. The important word here is the “commitment”. A Sikh student going to a school or a Sikh adult in any public space wearing a Kirpan have to honor that commitment at all times. This is where a Kirpan differs from a knife. Kirpan is a symbol of justice and a symbol against tyranny. It is unfair to club these two together. Kids already have ready access to other dangerous items like scissors, geometry compass sets, blades etc. at various places in school. Montessori schools openly allow the use of serrated real knives by kids as young as 4-5 years to chop fruits/vegetables because that is part of their teaching philosophy. Let’s all in the community have a healthy dialog and educate each other and have the decisions made with all the relevant facts in place. Thank you.

I’m good with it so long as all students regardless of race or religion can bring knives to school for all lawful purposes.

I am curious to know how people of the Sikh faith handle this issue vis-a-vis commercial flights? Specifically, kirpans are not allowed on airplanes (see TSA link below). Presumably the necessity of safety on flights does not curtail their religious practices pre/post flight, but is managed for the duration of the flight. How is the school debate much different?

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/sharp-objects

Assuming they were to be allowed, who would monitor the blades to ensure they are sufficiently short, and sufficiently dull? Or welded so they cannot be unsheathed? Would teachers be allowed to stop & frisk to spot check? If they only target Sikhs for spot checks, would that expose the school to harrassment complaints? What if someone, declares they identify as Sikh? Will a teacher be exposed to a lawsuit if they question that? Would they have to therefore spotcheck all students randomly? How much time and cost to the taxpayers will all this extra work involve?

Hopefully this will open the door for Christmas Trees, The Star of David and the Easter Bunny to be allowed back into our schools. Wasn’t the argument deemed that these might be offensive to some. I suggest the same standard be held here. Clearly Kirpans are offensive to some.