School asking daughter to remove small cross despite religious symbols policy

[FanFckingTastic]

I'm looking for some advice and thoughts!

DD is 15 and at secondary school. She has always worn a small silver cross - at primary school this was never an issue (it was a church school) Up until this point it's not been an issue at secondary school either. The cross is very small and is tucked into her shirt so you would have to be really looking for it in order to see it. She always removes it for PE etc.

Last Monday her head of year saw the cross and asked her to remove it. My daughter replied that it was her cross, and that she didn't want to. She was then approached and asked to remove it every day for the remainder of the week, with increasing threats of sanctions if she didn't comply with the schools 'no jewelry' rule. My daughter kept reiterating that this was her cross, and asked the teacher to speak with me. Finally on Friday I received an email to tell me that my daughter needed to take her cross off.

I completely understand the new jewelry rule but wonder how this sits alongside the responsibility that the school has under the equalities act 2010. In their uniform policy it states that it will 'allow pupils to wear headscarves and other religious or cultural symbols' I would interpret this to include a cross too?

My daughter wears her cross as a sign of her faith and really wants to continue to do this.

Has anyone come across this situation before? If so, what was the solution?

Its no different from other faiths, all have widely varying interpretations of the rules, particularly dress and symbolism.

Moslems are not required to wear hijab, many don’t but for those who do its often felt as an obligation. Ditto Jews wearing kippahs (sp?) or head coverings, Sikhs and Hindus with bangles (be they metal, wood or threaded) or the Sikh turban. Its unsurprising if some Christian groups feel the same level of obligation and they should be treated the same way.

Schools should have a policy on religious symbolism separate from a jewellery policy and where they conflict that needs resolving. Having a policy which implicitly allows some religious symbols whilst barring others is indirect discrimination.

It’s a different means of discrimination yes. Maybe give it a quick google search if you’d like to understand more about it.

Even some religious schools will have a health and safety policy about necklaces. Jewellery is often not considered appropriate and a good school cross references jewellery and genuine religious wearing of jewellery but a cross necklace is not a requirement so it’s firmly jewellery and H&S. Parents can find this out before they apply to a school.

OK.

"Indirect discrimination is defined as a situation where a policy, practice, or rule applies equally to everyone but has a more negative impact on a specific group of people who share a protected characteristic. Under the Equality Act 2010, this form of discrimination is recognized legally, and it can occur in various contexts, including employment, education, and service provision."

So how does this apply when a religion has no obligation to wear a symbol of faith ?

I would like to challenge this assertion that 'it is heavily encouraged by the Catholic Church'. It has never been as much as hinted at in sermons etc. in all the parishes I have attended over many years.

What is your source?

I agree, I’m Catholic and would describe it more as a cultural norm. It’s never been suggested to me by a priest or in any official way, it’s just something many Catholics do (I don’t, I work in a context where we don’t have things on us that can be pulled at).

Muslim females of a certain age ARE required to wear hijab. Those who dont will have their own reasons. It’s interesting that you chose to use ‘Moslem’ rather than ‘Muslim’. Can I ask why? It’s a very outdated spelling that is almost never used now.

No Muslim females are NOT required to wear a hijab at any age- the Quran says "dress modestly" head coverings are not even mentioned directly. lt is the interpretation of the culture the Muslim woman comes from that dictates hijab wearing, it is not directly religious.

That’s not the point though. A MINOR raised in Islamic faith would very rarely have a choice in whether they want to wear a head covering or not- and if they chose not to, they could be ostracised by her family and wider community. That’s why some concessions are made in the “religious symbols” school policy- to protect and safeguard. It’s school’s responsibility to keep the pupils safe. There’s a blanket ban on jewellery, and crosses are not exempt, because there’s literally no consequences in a catholic faith for someone who does not wear a cross. It’s purely a choice, and even the OP says daughter didn’t remove her cross because she WANTED to wear it. If OP’s DD is really so determined to outwardly display her faith then she can wear crucifix stud earrings or a cross on her lapel, without breaking any rules.

Muslim female ARE required to be in a state of hijab which includes covering their hair. This is the consensus of almost all mainstream Muslims. Muslims do not only take direction from the Quran. There is also hadith and fiqh of course. Other than a few ‘progressive’ ‘scholars’ you will not find any that say you don’t have to wear it. Its getting boring listening to people who aren’t Muslim or who are perhaps ex Muslim/from some minority sect trying to argue otherwise.

Agree.

There is this whole Iran thing going on. And one of the leadups to that was the demonstrations against the morality police and the death of a young woman who refused to comply.

I know not the UK. But different sects do have different interpretations/ rules. I know nothing about Islam, but I know a bit about Christianity. There are over 50k different Christian denominations. How a school is supposed to have rules for all of them, no idea.

Why would earings be ok, but a necklace not?
The safeguarding idea makes no sense- you cannot protect a child from it's own family without taking them into care, this is clearly shown when physical abuse occurs.

Yes, most schools make exemption for only a small stud earrings within the jewellery ban. Moreover, another user already suggested this to the OP and they agreed it was a great idea! So problem solved 🤷‍♀️
with regards to safeguarding, I’m not even gonna get into it, as you’re clearly either naive or deliberately refusing to see the issue for what it is.

Safeguarding is necessary, but don't let ubiquitous policies blind you to fact that it has it's limits-like anything in real life.
An exemption for stud earings is completely illogical, but whatever.

Being a member of a particular faith who likes to wear a piece of jewellery which is not required by that faith does not mean the person in question has a protected characteristic.

It’s not safeguarding!! It’s health and safety and the possibility of a chain being yanked! Ear studs or lapel badges won’t be! It’s that simple !

What did the school say OP? Is there an update?

Show proof of that
It's purely cultural, reflecting men's ownership of women

You show proof of that. Why cant non Muslims accept that Muslims believe they should cover their hair and its not because a group of random men want to own them.

You're the one making the outrageous claim, you provide the proof

deleted - posted on wrong thread

💯

People who misstate the law - particularly very early on on the thread - should be called out. Now I don’t know if this is the right expression - but go touch some grass (or read the Refugee Convention).

A factual statement of tbe law is not rage baiting
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To be fair, ear studs do present a safety risk - they can get caught on things and pulled, potentially tearing the earlobe. However, if a school allows girls to wear ear studs I guess it can't logically object to studs in the form of a small cross.

Sure, no problem https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/a-detailed-exposition-of-the-fiqh-of-covering-ones-nakedness-awra/

Do explain how my claim that Muslims should wear hijab which includes covering hair is outrageous please. It’s very well accepted across mainstream Islam. I think you know this already though.