CAIRO — After being barred from school for wearing a crucifix, 13-year-old Samantha Devine said she will fight for wearing the symbol of her devotion to God whatever the consequences.
"I am proud of my religion and it is my right to wear a cross around my neck," Devine told the British Daily Mail on Saturday, January 13.
Samantha was told by her teacher on Wednesday January 10 that she must remove her crucifix and the chain for breaching health and safety rules.
"I can't understand why the school thinks a tiny crucifix on a thin silver necklace is a health and safety hazard," she said.
"Students of other religions can show their beliefs by wearing bracelets or turbans, so why can I not wear a cross to show my devotion to God?" she wondered.
Samantha has pledged to keep wearing the cross when school restarts on Monday, January 15, even if it meant being expelled.
"I am determined to keep wearing the crucifix whatever the consequences - even if I get suspended or expelled."
Paul Jackson, the school's deputy head teacher, said the school has a policy of no jewellery to be worn by any students in years seven to ten., noting that all parents and students are aware of this.
Paul Jackson, the school's deputy head teacher, defended the ban decision.
"In this particular instance, the student and parent were informed that wearing the chain was a health and safety hazard, but that we would allow a lapel badge to be worn," he told the newspaper.
The case echoes that of British Airways employee Nadia Eweida, who was suspended in October for failing to remove her necklace or hide it under clothing in accordance with company policy.
The airline buckled to a barrage of criticism from church leaders and announced a shake-up of its uniform policy to allow symbols of faith to be worn openly.
Family support
Her family has vowed to fight the decision "all the way," claiming it was a clear discrimination against their daughter.
"We are British and should be allowed to wear it in our own country," father of the girl, who served as a soldier in the Royal Irish Regiment for 11 years including tours in Kosovo and Sierra Leone, told the paper.
"I respect every religion, but my daughter is just wearing a crucifix to protect her. It makes me wonder why I protected my country when we can't even protect my religious beliefs. This has upset the entire family," he added.
Devine also vowed to sue the school if it denied his daughter the necklace he gave her as a present.
The mother also stood by her daughter.
"She has been made fully aware that she is breaking a school rule, but Danny and myself have told her to stand up for what she believes in," she said.
"If it all comes to a head, I don't want to even think about removing her from the school because she has until now, got on so well, but we will not back down.
"Samantha is proud of who she is and we will fight this all the way."
A total non-story as far as I can see. The school has made clear that the problem is not the crucifix (they were perfectly happy with a crucifix lapel badge) but the necklace.
The no-jewelry policy across those years is common to all British schools, and for a good reason - ludicrous as it may sound kids can end up getting hurt by it during sports, playground fights, etc.
The kid should stop whining and follow the same rule everybody else does, and her parents should buy her a nice crucifix lapel badge.
I can understand a school having that rule.
Hopefuly she will c that its not just attacking her its a rule of the school and by the looks of it she is trying to turn it in to something alot bigger.
Good luck and respect to that girl. A health and safety hazard? It's just another stupid excuse. The real reason is "Christianity offends other faiths" typical. I wore a chain when I was at school but I had no teacher complaining about it. I knew people that had chains on their school trousers but again no complaints, BUT a girl with a little tiny necklace has been told to take it off because of health & safety? Don't be ridiculous. We aren't fooled that easily. When Labour is voted out then we can have some hope of getting rid of political correctness.
I have a crucifix myself but I need a chain, I might wear it as a middle finger up to political correctness.
^Different schools have different levels of strictness with these things. At my high school, teachers didn't tell us to take it of or put it anyway, the confiscated it in a flash.
They said she can wear it as a badge, I don't see the problem?
all british schools have a no-jewellery rule because of health and safety, but everyone i know ignores it! she could wear it but just take it off for PE, if the school's that fussy about it!
in my school we all wear jewellry but just hide our neclaces under our shirts.
A health and safety hazard? It's just another stupid excuse. The real reason is "Christianity offends other faiths" typical.
Nonsense. The rule was in place long before this particular 'issue' hit the papers, and was applied in my school (if not universally) thirty years ago. If they bend the rule in this instance they would have to abandon it completely and, yes.. jewelry CAN be a health and safety hazard, bizarre as that may sound. Some items are worse than others, but rather than have disputes in each case a general rule makes more sense.
Maasha'Allaah its kool how shes sticking to it.. the idea of the badge replacing the necklace might be controversial, but i like the way she's firm and sincere in this.
By the way, i think the christians do believe that the cross is a form of protection. Whereas we believe that Allaah can protect us, and no harm can come to us except if He wills, as a trial for us.
why would we be offended? they let us wear hijaab to schools etc so why would we have a problem? i think its just stupid if thats the reason.
It is stupid. We're all fed up of this political correctness. It's the liberals that are trying to be goody-goodies. The nursery songs such as "baa baa black sheep" and saying the word "blackboard" is banned from schools because it could offend blacks. That's how insane this is....
Nobody has complained about these but they still went ahead with this political correctness *bleep*
It is stupid. We're all fed up of this political correctness. It's the liberals that are trying to be goody-goodies. The nursery songs such as "baa baa black sheep" and saying the word "blackboard" is banned from schools because it could offend blacks. That's how insane this is....
Nobody has complained about these but they still went ahead with this political correctness *bleep*
it's rediculous.. the original version of 'baa baa black sheep' has been changed to 'happy sheep and even 'green sheep' in some schools. Who has ever seena green sheep?
Why do they assume the word black offends people of that colour? did anyone even ask them if it does? why would when the fact is there are black sheep.. and what's more is black ppl are proud of their history and culture not ashamed of it.
And neither does christianity offend people of other faith. why would it? we're living in a christian country aren't we? :confused:
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Re: UK Schoolgirl Sticks to Crucifix
By the way, do Christians really believe that a symbol will protect them?
Re: UK Schoolgirl Sticks to Crucifix
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