Reading this story about a girl forbidden to wear her chastity ring in the UK, I couldn’t help but laugh at how silly this sounds. Obviously the school has a “no jewelry” rule; while I question the necessity of such a rule, there are other questions which arise out of this situation. Other people are allowed to wear embellishments if it is a matter of their own religious faith. Obviously, schools want to keep things orderly, and this often means they must limit what can or cannot be worn. However, as we have seen many times, schools often allow religious symbolism from Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, et. al. without any problems but seem to take exception to Christian symbols.
I myself have no problems with allowing people to show their religious sympathies at school. I welcome Muslims showing their faith in front of me. I know he or she will be someone who shares with me a growing disdain for the removal of religion in public society.
It is also clear that some things could be seen as offensive or dangerous. Should we allow Satanists who enjoy human sacrifices display it on their t-shirts? Should we allow KKK followers wear their hoods in school? Should we allow fundamentalists wearing offensive images of the Pope?
What limits should there be in what someone can or cannot wear in school? How do we draw the line? Is there a line? Or should it be a free-for-all, so that we will not be silenced ourselves? If we say we can stop the Satanists but allow others, do we not make the same kind of exceptions we often complain about? If we say no one can wear anything religious, doesn’t that go against fundamental human rights and the right to religious liberty?
What proposals do you suggest?
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