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JICI - FRM1
 

 

Annual Agreement between the Hopkinton Public Schools and 
Students Carrying a Religious Artifact, the Kirpan

The Hopkinton Public Schools desires to work with families to ensure that a Kirpan can be worn in our schools in ways that maximize safety for everyone. The District requires the blade of the Kirpan to be dull and to be no longer than 3.0 inches in length. Any student who will carry a Kirpan must meet annually with the district’s designees to sign the agreement between the family and the school District; the Superintendent’s designees for this agreement will be the building principal and the Director Equity and Access for the District.

The following criteria must be met if a student is permitted to carry a Kirpan:

1. The student must have a deeply held religious belief. Carrying of the Kirpan is restricted to Sikh pupils who have gone through the Amrit Pahul ceremony; 

2. The student must have a record of appropriate school behavior;

3. The Kirpan will be sheathed and secured, in line with religious requirements; 

4. The sheathed Kirpan will not be displayed openly and will be worn under clothing to ensure the highest possible safety at all times; 

5. During physical education, sports and recreational activities, the Kirpan must be kept under clothing or carried in a secure pocket in shorts or swim shorts, etc. so that it is not visible and other children have no access to it. The parent/guardian authorized to sign this agreement takes full responsibility and  holds the district harmless for any injury sustained by the student during the school day or school-sponsored activities if the injury is attributable directly to wearing the Kirpan;

6. During times when a student is unable to safely store the Kirpan (e.g. when the student is asleep on an overnight field trip) an adult (preferably an administrator) will keep the kirpan safely locked and stored;

7. At no time will the Kirpan be drawn while the student is in school, at a school-related event, or in school transport. 

8. The Hopkinton Public Schools requires that the Kirpan be no more than 3.0 inches in length and that the blade is dulled; should a family request an exemption from this requirement, the family will work with the building principal who will grant the exemption, basing the decision on student safety for all;

9. Where an agreement has been reached with the student and the parent/guardian and the Hopkinton Public Schools, any violation of these expectations will be dealt with seriously under the school's policies for behavior management and discipline.

Student Name _______________________________________ Date: ____________________

School Attending ____________________________________

Description of Kirpan: _________________________________________________________________

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Name of Building Principal ___________________________________________

Have the Superintendent’s designees reviewed the Kirpan determining it meets the requirements of a 3.0 inch dull blade? 

YES NO

 

Do the Superintendent’s designees feel that an exemption may be made for this student’s Kirpan?

YES NO

 

Explain:

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If the school and the family are in agreement with the requirements as stated above in this document, parties may indicate agreement by signing below:
 

Student’s name ________________________________________________ Date:_______________

Parent’s printed name: __________________________________________

Parent’s signature: _____________________________________________ Date:_______________

Principal’s signature: _____________________________________________ Date:_______________

 

POLICY JICI - FRM-1