Um.. Banning the US flag????

[1DH+4Kids=Happyus]

High School Bans American Flag

Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007 - 11:56 PM Updated: 12:54 PM

SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C. – On the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, students at one high school were not allowed to wear clothes with an American flag.


Under a new school rule, students at Hobbton High School are not allowed to wear items with flags, from any country, including the United States.

The new rule stems from a controversy over students wearing shirts bearing flags of other countries.

Gayle Langston said her daughter, Jessica, was told to remove her Stars and Stripes t-shirt.

“Today she wanted to wear her shirt, and I had to tell her no,” said Langston. “She didn't like it at all because I knew it would get her in trouble. Of all days, 9/11, she could not wear her American Flag shirt.”

The superintendent of schools in Sampson County calls the situation unfortunate, but says educators didn’t want to be forced to pick and choose which flags should be permissible.

[Pandsala]

why is it a controversy to wear an item with a flag...?

[Dodgerofinsults]

I understand why they did this. I don't necessarily agree with it but if they let some wear flags they can't say no to others - that's discrimination. So they are taking a stand they don't want other nation's flags being worn to school so they ban them all, even our own. Sad, but true.

[1DH+4Kids=Happyus]

Originally Posted by Dodgerofinsults

I understand why they did this. I don't necessarily agree with it but if they let some wear flags they can't say no to others - that's discrimination. So they are taking a stand they don't want other nation's flags being worn to school so they ban them all, even our own. Sad, but true.

That's like saying no one can wear their favorite team jersey to a home ballgame though....

I think it is dumb.

[KayKay]

I'm not sure the controversy is about wearing an item with the flag. I think the educators probably didn't want to be put in the position of having to choose what's acceptable and what's not acceptable.

One person wears a t-shirt with a flag on it. The next person wears a t-shirt with a flag with a red circle and a line through it (as in "No flags"). Both are exercising their rights to free speech. But then people find the second t-shirt offensive and insensitive and complain to the administration. The administration can't ban the "No flags" t-shirt because that'd be allowing one opinion and not the other. They have to ban BOTH.

I get confused. I'm just glad I can wear MY favorite t-shirt which has a Texas flag and the slogan "Life is Good".

[Pandsala]

but i dont get why any flags are banned, how is wearing a different nations flag offensive? i mean...the kid might be FROM that country, or have relatives who live there, heck it would be better used by the school as a teaching opportunity, to teach about that country!

[1DH+4Kids=Happyus]

Originally Posted by Pandsala

but i dont get why any flags are banned, how is wearing a different nations flag offensive? i mean...the kid might be FROM that country, or have relatives who live there, heck it would be better used by the school as a teaching opportunity, to teach about that country!

Can't answer that one...

[Pandsala]

yeah its got me stumped too..

[Dodgerofinsults]

Originally Posted by Pandsala

but i dont get why any flags are banned, how is wearing a different nations flag offensive? i mean...the kid might be FROM that country, or have relatives who live there, heck it would be better used by the school as a teaching opportunity, to teach about that country!

You're not thinking about the 2 parents that are going to complain which leaves the school liable. The other posters is correct about the flag with the circle around it, etc. no logos of any kind. Schools have laws to abide by and some of them are about discrimination, whereas rivalry at a sporting event is not considered discrimination.

I'm explaining the thought process behind the scenes of these kinds of decisions, not stating them as my opinion.

[Pandsala]

oh i understand dodger, i know how severely weird some people can get about schools, ive seen that, like how they are banning tag. I knew some parents like ones that would complain about stupid stuff, like tag, or wearing the color red (yes that was an actual complaint, they said it was too violent, so the kids werent allowed to have red colored uniform dress shirts, just blue and white.), these parents literally treated their 8 year old like a 4 year old, he couldnt tie his shoes or get himself dressed, i refused to allow my DS to play with him because the parents freaked out if DS so much as touched him during a game (like grabbed his arm to show him something), and wrestling and running at all were out out out (yes running, they didnt allow their son to run "he might fall!", he was overweight as a result of no exercise). It made me sad to see.