Ban On Rosary Beads In Schools Lifted

In Lake Chelan, Washington, the Chelan School District board has lifted a ban on rosary beads little more than a week after school officials had prohibited them. A Wenatchee police officer had warned school officials that rosary beads worn around the neck could be a symbol of gang membership, particularly among Latino students. The Associated Press reported yesterday that the board dropped the ban on rosaries and a number of other symbols after protests from parents, students and members of the community. Other banned symbols that are now permitted include owls, the numbers 13, 14 and 18, and sports jerseys of certain famous players.