Sponsored by
Band ban is ‘anti Christian’
Six-year-old Eddie Thompson was left distressed when a teacher snapped off a religious band he was wearing around his ankle. He is pictured with his father Peter Thompson, 39. Picture: Liz Mockler D3057LM
A FATHER is accusing a school of discriminating against Christians after his son had his religious band confiscated.
Peter Thompson is refusing to send Eddie, six, back to Estfeld Primary in Tickhill until the situation is resolved over the band, which carries a religiously symbolic image of a fish. He has made a series of complaints and is demanding an apology after Eddie was told he could not wear the band.
Mr Thompson says his son had been wearing it around his ankle, concealed under his sock, for six months. Mr Thompson, of Beech Avenue, Tickhill, said: “I couldn’t believe it when Eddie told me what had happened. He was so upset.
“He wears the band because he wants to feel that God is always with him. He has had it on for the past six months and makes sure it covered by his sock, so it’s not on display or posing any kind of risk.
“I think they’re discriminating against him because he’s a Christian. This is a symbol of his faith.”
Headteacher Diane Risley, said: “At Tickhill Estfeld the safety and well-being of all pupils is taken extremely seriously and the school has a clear uniform policy in place to help families understand what pupils can and cannot wear whilst at school.
“Whilst we do not comment on individual cases, any parent who has concerns is entitled to raise these with us directly.”
*See This week’s Free Press for full story
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Doncaster
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 5 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
