Kaur Foundation seeks to raise awareness of cultural and religious literacy about and within the Sikh-American community. We do this by equipping students, teachers, and classrooms with resources and training that encourage deeper understanding of the Sikh American experience and dialogue about the necessity of building inclusive communities. All of our work is informed by four key principles

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1. Grounded in Cultural and Religious Literacy Frameworks

Kaur Foundation bases all of its work in a framework of cultural and religious literacy, an integrated set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes crucial for participation in a pluralistic society. Our primary goal is to increase knowledge and understanding about the Sikh tradition, but we assert that this knowledge and understanding should be part of a greater understanding of all religious traditions. We are informed by the work of leading religious literacy scholars and educators.

NCSS statement on teaching about religion

American Academy of Religion’s Guidelines for Teaching about Religion in K-12 Public Schools in the United States

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As we envision “a society that promotes cultural awareness and inclusiveness for all”, we are guided by First Amendment principles that call for the protection of the religious liberty rights of people of all religions and none. The classroom is a place for education about religions and not for the promotion of any tradition over another. We apply the 3Rs of religious liberty—Rights, Responsibility, and Respect—in our curriculum materials, teacher training, and other activities.   

Consensus Statement on Religion in the Public Schools

• The school’s approach to religion is academic, not devotional.
• The school strives for student awareness of religions, but does not press for student acceptance of any religion.
  
• The school sponsors study about religion, not the practice of religion.
• The school may expose students to a diversity of religious views, but may not impose any particular view.
  
• The school educates about all religions; it does not promote or denigrate religion.
• The school informs students about various beliefs; it does not seek to conform students to any particular belief.

2. Guided by the First Amendment

“Every person has rights. We all have the responsibility to protect the rights of others, including people who are different. We all have the duty to be respectful toward other people, even when we disagree” (Kid Friendly Version of the 3Rs)

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3. Standards Aligned

 All of our curriculum materials are designed to align with state curriculum standards to make it easy for educators to integrate the study of Sikhism into the classroom. In addition to state standards, we draw on the National Council for the Social Studies C3 Framework for College, Career, and Civic Life, and the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies (grades 6-12). While our curriculum materials currently only reference a few states, we are actively working to catalog the relevant standards for as many states as possible to be able to provide those references. (Please reach out if there is a state that you would like us to move to the top of our list.)

Check out our curriculum resources

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We want to ensure that teachers are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to confidently use our curriculum materials and to work with Sikh students and students of all backgrounds. We seek the input of both students and teachers to inform our curricular materials, training, and other activities. The voices of the Sikh community, and especially of Sikh students, are central to all that we do.


Learn more about our teacher training opportunities

4.  Informed by Students and Teachers