Muslim headwear stirs complaint at Northwest Indiana charter school

The parents of a Muslim student say their daughter was discriminated against when a teacher sent her to the office for wearing traditional Muslim headwear called a hijab, but school officials say the teacher was only following school policy regarding hats and head coverings.

Attia Gray, 15, a sophomore at the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology, said her teacher looked at her hijab on Tuesday and told her she couldn’t wear it. “I said I can’t take it off, it’s for religious purposes. She sent me down to the office.”

Principal Sean Egan said Attia had not worn a head covering all year so the teacher sent her to the office for clarification on the school policy.

Egan said the school has no problem with the head covering. Its policy pertains to baseball caps and other headwear.

“The main reason the teacher asked was she never wore it before,” he said. Egan described the headwear as a leopard print.

The explanation didn’t satisfy Attia’s parents, Kitten and Derrick Gray, who moved to Hammond from Chicago about three years ago.

They sent a letter complaining to the charter school’s sponsor, Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., seeking an investigation into the incident and cultural diversity training for school staff, as well as an apology.

The Grays say Attia was ridiculed by other students after the teacher sent her to the principal and singled her out for wearing the hijab, considered a symbol of modesty in the Muslim religion.

“It’s kind of annoying because people are so immature,” said Attia. “It should be something that people understand and see everyday. I try to ignore the ignorant comments and keep a positive attitude.”

Attia, who wants to become a marine biologist, said she wore the hijab occasionally in eighth grade, but didn’t wear it last year.

“I wear it when I want to or feel like it. The Muslim religion is about modesty so that’s why there’s a covering.”