Sword dad alarms kids

A QUEENSLAND school has bowed to religious sensitivities and allowed a parent to carry a sword through its gates, despite concerns children were frightened and felt unsafe.

The parent, a member of the Sikh faith, was allowed to wear the sword, known as a kirpan, despite another parent’s complaints about safety.

The kirpan is one of five ceremonial symbols that must be worn by males of the Sikh religion.

Queensland’s Weapons Act 1990 states the kirpan cannot be worn on school grounds for any reason, but the Education Department has vowed to keep allowing the item to be worn around students on a “case-by-case basis”.

The principal of the school last year sought advice from two police officers about the legality of the kirpan around students and was told it was legal. As a result, the principal told the parent he could keep wearing it, but suggested he also wear “a two-piece outfit so the kirpan is not conspicuous”.

The principal’s response caused more outrage and a concerned parent wrote to Education Minister Kate Jones.

The school’s name has been withheld, but the Minister’s briefing note on the situation revealed she was made aware kirpans in school were illegal.

It was not clear what action Ms Jones took. But she was advised last year that reporting kirpans to police could cause unrest in the Sikh community. She was also advised that a policy be created about the use of weapons on school grounds.

“I am of the view that the contents ... contained in this brief are not suitable for publication as the matter may have cultural sensitivity,” Ms Jones’ adviser wrote to her.

Despite the warning, the ministerial briefing note was released to the public under Right to Information laws earlier this month.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for acting Education Minister Grace Grace backed the principal’s handling of the situation, and a department spokesman added that the kirpan was usually a dull blade, and if one was sharp or “used to threaten or harm (it) may be considered a weapon”.

Punjabi Cultural Association spokesman Avninder Gill said the kirpan should be allowed, as long as parents were told of its significance.

“If someone doesn’t know why he has it, I can understand (why some people might be scared). This is a very important symbol for the Sikh community. It’s not a knife.”