Girl sent home for wearing crucifix
Remember, "we have to be understanding" ...
Girl sent home for wearing a crucifix
A school has defended its decision to exclude a pupil after she refused to take off her crucifix necklace.
Sam Morris, 16, was told to remove her cross and chain on Thursday by deputy headteacher Howard Jones at Sinfin Community School in Derby.
When theyear-11 student refused she was told not to return until today and without the item of jewellery.
The 1,070-student comprehensive has a strict policy which bans most jewellery being worn.
Items can be worn out of view or if they are part of religious beliefs, such as the Kara, a bracelet worn by Sikhs.
But the policy has been described as "unfair" by Sam's mother, Debra Saunders.
Mr Jones said her daughter's one-day exclusion had been a "last resort" after a 30-minute conversation failed to persuade her to take it off.
Mr Jones said the strict jewellery policy was to avoid accidents. He added: "As a Christian I don't have to wear a crucifix but Sikhs don't have that option and we have to be understanding."
Mrs Saundera, of Thackeray Street, Sinfin, said: "Sam thinks it is very unfair when other people are allowed to wear religious symbols and it just ends up creating a divide between the pupils when everyone is told they should be living in unity."
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