Explained: Why Schools In These US States Are Teaching Sikhism

In recent years, many schools in the United States have decided to include Sikhism in their educational curricula. One important reason for including Sikhism in school curricula is to foster religious diversity.

Recognizing that the United States is home to a diverse spectrum of religious beliefs and practices, educators understand the need to provide pupils with a thorough grasp of many religious traditions. Schools create an environment that celebrates and respects religious pluralism by including Sikhism in the curriculum.

18 states and Washington, D.C. have passed legislation to teach Sikhism in grades K-12, with the district being the most recent to join the growing list. The trend began in New Jersey in 2009.

Sikhs are a growing community in the United States. Bullying targeting Sikh students is on the rise ¡ª with turbans and beards making the group an easy target ¡ª and years of advocacy are now paying dividends.

Now 19 States In US To Reportedly Include Sikhism In Curriculum, Here's Why

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Gurjap Kaur Kohli, now 17, was a student in New Jersey in 2017 and was thrilled to be a resident of the first state to mandate Sikhism education in schools. Six years later, she is pleased to see more schools implementing the curriculum.

For kids like Kohli, the obligation made her feel seen and relieved the stress of answering questions about her religion, the fifth largest in the world.

This Is What The Curriculum Might Look Like

Scott Potusek, an upstate New York social studies teacher, incorporates a comparative world religions section into his curriculum each year. He noticed how thrilled one Sikh student was to learn about the monotheistic religion that originated in India when he began teaching sixth grade approximately five years ago.

"It was great to have that experience come out of religion being included in the standards and seeing the impact that had on the students in the classroom and the direction we took our curriculum in," Potusek told NBC News.

According to the charity Kaur Foundation, the Sikh population in the United States has gradually risen since the late 1800s, contributing to fields such as agriculture, health, and the arts. According to the organization, there are around 750,000 Sikhs in the United States and 30 million globally.

Three of the four most populous states, California, New York, and Texas, are among the 19 states that have adopted Sikhism in the classroom. Since 2019, momentum has developed, with 11 states adopting the curriculum in the last four years.

Potusek, an educated Catholic, said he contacted the Sikh Coalition, a national nonprofit advocacy organization, for assistance in comprehending the faith for his class's unit.

His curriculum incorporates Sikhism's formation and customs, such as the five articles of faith: kesh (uncut hair), kara (steel bracelet), kanga (little wooden comb), kachera (undershorts), and kirpan (similar to a dagger or sword). Unshorn hair helps Sikhs live in the image God has given them, while the kara serves as a physical reminder of their spiritual connection.

In 2020, Potusek's district extended its social studies curriculum to meet New York state standards, which offer a broad religious unit that includes Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Bullying Prevention Through Education

As disputes over school curriculums flare in classrooms and libraries, Harman Singh, Sikh Coalition's education director, feels education concentrating on religion and culture is critical, especially as the political landscape and new legislation make teaching history more complex.

He emphasizes the significance of historical events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which fueled bigotry, notably against turbaned Sikhs, and the 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin, massacre, in which a white supremacist killed six people inside a gurdwara, a Sikh temple of worship. Four persons were injured, one of whom died from injuries sustained in the incident years later.

According to the Sikh Coalition, Sikh students are bullied at twice the national average. Advocates such as Singh think that teaching pupils about Sikhism at an early age is critical to combatting racism and xenophobia.

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"Education is one of the most effective ways to reduce bullying." As the political dynamics surrounding social studies standards in this nation become more divided, he says, "We are seeing increased interest and commitment from Sikh community members and coalition partners to fight for inclusive social studies standards."

According to the Sikh Coalition, Sikh kids were bullied on social media, in person, and through violence. This is a regular occurrence for Sikhs who grew up in the diaspora.

According to a 2020 poll conducted by the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, 58 percent of Sikhs have been bullied or harassed because of their religious identity. Sixty-three percent of Sikhs stated they encountered discrimination because they wore a turban.

The Community's Advocacy

As possibilities to change the social studies curriculum arose state by state, campaigners from nonprofit organizations collaborated with local communities to integrate Sikhism's history and the impact Sikhs have had on American history in classrooms. Singh stated that the Sikh Coalition is collaborating with communities in Minnesota and Connecticut to develop a curriculum incorporating Sikhism. They are also working with Utah, Mississippi, and Virginia school systems to prepare class syllabi after the states' consent.

While states with substantial Sikh populations, such as New Jersey and California, Singh believes it is equally necessary to cover the topic in states with smaller Sikh populations, such as North Dakota. For some youngsters, learning about Sikhism in school means experiencing representation for the first time.

"We believe that states with fewer Sikhs require inclusion as well because Sikh students in those schools or districts may be the only Sikh students there," he said. "They may be especially vulnerable to feeling as if they are not being seen or represented, and they may not have a gurdwara or a local community to which they can turn."

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Singh argues that as school districts gain a greater understanding of what education should entail, pupils should be exposed to these topics earlier.

"Ignorance breeds animosity, and one of the best ways to keep students safe is through inclusive education," he explained.

Each state has its curricular standards, and the units, like all disciplines, are scaffolded: Sikhism teaches the fundamentals of religion in elementary school social studies classes, which are then expanded upon in middle and high school classrooms.

"It's not enough for a student to learn about the Sikh community historically in the 11th grade because up until that time, they've had no exposure to the community, and there's no reference point," Singh told NBC News.

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