Does the wearing of religious symbols/dress have any place in secular schools given the current court case?

Question

We live in an increasingly secular society. Religion is for the home. Uniforms are there to create a level playing field so that nobody can be picked upon or teased because they can't afford the latest fashions. Further they add to a collegiate angle to the education process, marking all who wear them as part of the school they attend. Would the Religious groups who take court cases to allow the wearing of Muslim Traditional Dress or Christian religious symbols be so supportive of the Wiccan Child who wished to wear a pentangram in public?

Answer 1

Religion is increasingly used as a sort of "trump card". You can insist on ridiculous observations on the basis that they are part of your religion, yet deny the same to others on the basis that this is also part of your religion.

This is absurd.

The same criteria should be applied to religious observance as to all other rights. The right to observe your religion should come with the obligation to respect all others, including those who practice other religions and those who practice none at all.

Religious rights should not trump these rights - they should be equal to them. If I say it is offensive for you to pray in my presence, then why should you be allowed to? You being religious does not give you some supreme right to hurt me, surely.

So in school, observence of a common standard should trump the supposed rights to impose a set of beliefs on those around an individual.

Answer 2

If a school has proper guidelines in place about the wearing of religious symbols, then there should be no problem at all with the wearing of any religious symbol, so long as it did not breach the uniform code set out for all students.

As for the wearing of the pentagram, I personally have no problem with this and usually give students a favourable comment whenever I see it being worn. BTW, my main subject is religious studies.

Answer 3

If you mean the Lydia Playfoot case;

This case is not about wearing religious symbols. The school has no problem with her wearing a symbol of her religion (crosses are permitted in the school's dress code), but the code clearly and unequivocally states *no jewellery other than religious symbols*.
The ring she wants to be allowed to wear isn't a religious symbol;her religion doesn't require her to wear it.
It's a commercial affectation, and an attempt to gain publicity; her parents SELL these rings.

Answer 4

A school uniform is just that. A uniform all students are to dress the same.

If it is againt school policy to wear anything on your body other than the uniform as designated by the school. Then so be it.

If you want your children to wear such ornaments or dress in their faith, then send them to a school, which does not require a uniform.

Otherwise, deal with it. That is why the uniform is there.

For Hottie above,
You can't pick and choose which religions get represented in a school. If you are entitled to your faith and displays of it, then so are others. Christianity does not own America. It has plenty of other citizens of other faiths.

Answer 5

You will understand easy that the European court write all decisions according the interest of new world order.Like in the States ... They want that our past like yours will be forgotten to install easier their new laws and I'm not surprised because the Illuminati worry always christians or protestants who now work better together...and sometime they use muslims to bother us.... During the revolution especially during the terror 1793 the poeple destroyed most part of Statues at front of churches symbol of Christian and turned the Churches into barnes for grains or salt! In France they will not be allowed to destroy any thing:all is classed and if your house is located in a protected area you have to use particular tiles and colors for repairs as near as possible of original stuff. They have trouble to control our cheese our spirits home made..... We faced the germans and it's not a foreigner official with a pen who will bother us .Last new:they try to make a censor of all the wells and I wait the official trying to enter into the mill.My rights on water are signed by a king of France and not by a gay... Like you we cannot bear any more:we do fight them daily. You do know that Italia is the babybed of our civilisation since Romans. In fact now we are bothered with Europe especially since entrance of central europa countries we will loose at least 20% on our level We are too bothered by the lost of our constitution .....Care on the other side. We cannot answer simple they are lots of components....

Answer 6

If the school has a uniform policy (not just the normal dress code), then there is no place for any accessory not included in that policy.

Elsewhere, children have a right to wear whatever religious symbol they wish (cross, crucifix, pentagram, or otherwise).

Answer 7

As long as it is a level playing field.Your point about the Wiccan Child is totally the crux of the matter.The only way it can be fair,considering the amount of dangerous fanatics out there,is to ban all religious symbolism at school.

Answer 8

where I am at no public school requires uniforms but most of the privet and Christan schools do, there are many chooses for a parent to pick from, so if they don't like the dress code of one school they can find another. I speak as a parent that has sent my children to Christan school with a well defined uniform policy.
my opinion is for them to find a school that will accommodate they are there.

Answer 9

Freedom of religion is for everyone, not just Christians. Wear a pentagram if that's what you want to do. I don't think someone's face should be covered though. Facial expressions are important when evaluating someone and it's respectful to look at someone who is talking to you. All people (teachers) deserve the right to see a smile or frown or look of confusion while addressing someone.

God Bless.

Answer 10

I am a Christian but I firmly believe that if it was decided that she attend a secular school she adhere to its policies.
Everyone keeps saying that she has the right to practice but who is the authority here,she or the school?The bible also says that we should "subject unto higher powers"
Read Romans 14,1 Peter 2