SALDEF to partner with Poway Unified School District on Anti-Bullying Program Washington DC; January 15, 2009 — The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, has entered into a proactive partnership with the Poway Unified School District in San Diego to ensure that Sikh American students enjoy a safe and nurturing learning environment. Soon after announcing an anti-bullying partnership with a junior high school near San Francisco, SALDEF was alerted to an incident at a San Diego school in which a teacher made rude comments about a Sikh American student’s dastaar (Sikh turban). SALDEF engaged both school and district authorities to ensure that this incident was documented and dealt with in an appropriate manner. Recognizing the sensitivity of this matter, school officials issued a formal apology to the student and his family; secured an apology from the teacher; and took other steps to rectify the situation, including partnership with SALDEF on administering a district wide anti-bullying program. This collaboration will include the integration of SALDEF resources into a district-wide school bullying survey to ensure that the experiences of Sikh American students are taken into account. Additional projects are being planned to strengthen this partnership and create greater awareness about Sikh Americans and the problem of school bullying. “The Poway Unified School District has taken major steps toward creating a positive learning environment for Sikh American students,” said SALDEF Legal Director Rajdeep Singh Jolly. “We hope that school districts across the country will follow the example of the Poway Unified School District. SALDEF is particularly grateful to Mr. Hari Bhagat Singh, Associate Superintendent William Chiment, Ms. Sabriya Pedretti, and Dr. Tom McCoy for their leadership.” SALDEF will continue to work with school officials to foster collaboration with the Sikh American community. If you believe that your child is experiencing difficulties in school, please contact SALDEF immediately at education@saldef.org or by phone at (202) 393-2700 so that your concerns can be addressed.
