THE CRUCIFIX ARGUMENT. What Do You Think?

Question

The school doesn't have a problem with religion. It has a problem with the wearing of ANY jewellery.
You will find that this is common in all schools because of the Health and Safety issues.
Would you like your child's necklace to get caught into a piece of machinery during DT and for them to be strangled by it? No. This is why ANY jewellery is not permitted. Rings and earrings are all potentially dangerous in a school setting. Taking them off before these lessons would also cause problems, as children may lose them and then you'd have angry parents on the phone.
You know the rules before you send your kids to the school. This is nothing to do with religion!

NO other religions aren't allowed to wear jewellery at this school. I know people at this school and I went to a school with the SAME rules. Don't have a go at Muslims and other religions because they aren't allowed to wear jewellery either.

Answer 1

Here we go again!. This is a silly little girl wanting to make a name for herself, no doubt with her parents blessing. The school have made it clear that she can wear a cross on her lapel so problem solved. Let's look at it another way, what if the school had ignored her wearing her necklace for fear of retribution and this girl had caught her necklace and injured herself. No doubt, the parents would be suing the school. This child needs to get her head down and get on with getting a good education and accept that there are rules in the world that they might not like. God (excuse the punn!) help her when she goes into the big grown up world. If she was that much of a Christian she would have a bit more respect for other people. Silly little madam.

Answer 2

I agree, I don't have a problem with such school rules. I suspect the individuals involved who make a fuss secretly like it because then they can show off about 'we're such poor oppressed christians'. Ridiculous. For some people, pretending that they're part of a victimised minority gives them a sense of satisfaction. They should grow up, there are far more important things to complain about. If the school allowed jewellery, they would get sued if a child had an accident. Are the complainers thinking that because it's a crucifix, they will be protected from school-place accidents?!

Answer 3

The whole point of H&S is to be able to carry out activities with reducing the risk of harm.

You seem to have been sucked into the NANNY STATE ban everything culture and the inability to use COMMON SENSE school of thought.

A few BASIC, SIMPLE RULES could be put in place to allow jewellery to be worn without any problems.

EG - Remove necklaces / rings when doing PE / DT
No dangling earrings allowed at all.

As for loosing them & the angry parents on the phone well
- Why would they bring expensive jewellery into school in the first place?
- If they bring jewellery into school IT IS UP TO THE OWNER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.

I would also remind you that watches & medical ID braclets are jewellery - are they going to be banned too?

It sounds to me like H&S is being used as an excuse to cover another problem and you should hang your head in shame for falling for it.

Answer 4

How can a small chain around a person's neck be a Health and Safety issue?. I would have thought the school tie was more of a problem. This is yet another example of discrimination against Christians.
H&S will rules will be twisted to fit any control freaks personal prejudices. Why are they always picking on Christians yet leaving the religious bangles of Sikhs out or the Hijab of the Muslim. I would have thought the teachers had better things to worry about, like 16 year olds leaving school barely literate.

Answer 5

I think you're absolutely right. It's not about religion - they said she could wear a lapel badge. It's a question of health and safety. if the kid gets her necklace caught on a piece of school equipment, she could strangle herself. They are merely protecting their interests. This has been standard practice in schools since at least the early 1980's when I started secondary school.

Why do people have to make every issue about religion now?

Answer 6

No, it wasn't a safety issue, it was because of the crucifix! You left out the part where Muslims were allowed to wear their necklaces. Schools have no problems with necklaces or earrings as long as they are not of a Christian nature. All loose jewelry must be removed before running machinery however. It definitely was of a religious nature.

Answer 7

Yes i agree totally, the girl this week for example who couldn't wear her crucifix chain to school, that was nothing to do with religion, she was allowed to wear a crucifix pin on the lapel of her blazer. As you say it was for health and safety reasons, and the same rules apply in most schools and work places. Things are getting really silly now.

Answer 8

The mere fact that it made headline news in the media make this an issue,alongside closing playing fields and having some TV cook advising on dinners.It is only more proof of a world gone mad.

Answer 9

If a child at school were to wear a Star of David and be told to remove it, would the reaction be the same as telling a child not to wear a crucifix?

Answer 10

I agree and in the 'past' this was never a problem with parents or students. Unfortunately some parents today feel because they have the right to complain or sue, they will use any excuse [especially if the media is present] to do so.