Posted on 08/12/2005 6:43:27 AM PDT by eyedigress
The Maryville Board of Education voted on second reading Thursday night to ban flags, including the long-standing Rebel flag, from school-sponsored events.
About 75 people attended the meeting with 10 audience members speaking both for and against the policy.
The event safety policy bans ``noisemakers, flags, laser-pointers (lights), sirens, whistles, portable stereos (e.g. CD players and tape players), banners, horns, handheld signs and implements (e.g. poles, sticks and wires to support flags, banners or other such items at any school sponsored activity.''
The policy addresses other areas including abusive language, harassment/intimidation and taunting.
``Any action or speech that might reasonably be considered fighting words or that is likely to cause substantial disruption is also prohibited,'' the policy reads.
Before the vote, board member Doug Jenkins told the crowd how his personal decision was clarified for him. After the last meeting someone asked him how he felt about the issue, and he said he wanted to share those feelings.
Jenkins said he ``had to be convinced about the importance of this issue.''
Citing the history of his son playing football for the high school and the excitement of preparing for games, which included the use of the flag, he said the flag didn't represent oppression or racism to him.
However, he said he listened to what all different people had to say and read all the letters. What convinced him was an e-mail written by Carl Stewart that was printed in The Daily Times along with numerous other e-mails.
Stewart, a running back, was named the Tennessee Class 4A Mr. Football Back of the Year and Tennessee Sports Writers Class 4A first-team All-State while at Maryville. Stewart, who plays for Auburn University, helped lead Maryville to its third-consecutive Class 4A state championship.
Stewart is black.
Stewart's e-mail
``I spent my four years cringing each time I had to run and like it as the Confederate battle flag waved,'' Stewart said in his e-mail. ``I was proud of my school and the school spirit, but I despised being represented by a symbol that stood for minority oppression.''
Jenkins said he assumed, as other people he's talked to have assumed, that Stewart liked playing under the flag. Reading Stewart's letter convinced him that it was time for a change.
``In my heart, I think this is the right thing,'' said Jenkins, who urged people to ``support these kids regardless.''
Jenkins said he is proud of his Southern heritage and named examples of what he considers that to be. But people have failed to take ownership of the flag back from the hate groups that have used it for their causes, he said.
``What makes this a great community is that we care about each other,'' Jenkins said.
A tough decision
Other board members said it was a tough decision including Mark Cate, who made the motion to approve the policy. Cate graduated from Maryville High School.
``It's about doing the right thing,'' Cate said.
Board member Sherry Miller, a former cheerleader at the high school, seconded the motion. Board member Denny Garner, a graduate and former football player, was the sole vote against the ban.
Chairman Carolyn McAmis only votes in case of a tie.
``It is not an easy decision for us because we all have friends on both sides,'' McAmis said, even though she didn't vote.
Prior to the vote, freshman Will Lairamore asked the board not to get rid of the flag and noisemakers. He said it had inspired his brother and other football players to keep going when things were down, when they saw the cheering fans and waving flags.
Barbara Little, who grew up with Southern heritage as a big part of her family, said the flag has been misused by hate groups in recent years. Little, who is white, asked the board to consider what it felt like to black person and come to the school with those flags flying.
The ban takes effect immediately that will include tonight's Maryville Orthopaedic Clinic Football Jamboree at Maryville High School.
Fans may smile after good plays (no extreme smiles or displays of teeth allowed). Additionally, 5 seconds of subdued clapping is permitted between periods of play and at the end of the game.
Remember where I'm talking from... :>)
What are these people thinking? Why not just ban all school events while they're at it? I guess we would have been kicked out for firing our big cannon at our games.
In case you damn yanks didn't know, Maryville is a nice town South of Knoxville, TN that has been invaded by libs.
"But people have failed to take ownership of the flag back from the hate groups that have used it for their causes, he said."
How can we when it gets banned somewhere almost every day.
I cringe at the thought that bi-lingual education promotes a language originating in the country responsible for the oppression and extermination of the Aztec and Incan indians. How about that Stewart?
Northern libs move after they've fouled their nests, then they work overtime to change the Red States into the foul places they left. They need to be kept out of any area not already infested with them.
Banning Old Glory is absolutely stupid!
(BTW, I think the locals should boycott, at least the early games)
ho hum...
another day, another reason to home school your children.
The school board administrators must be voted OUT!
>>The event safety policy bans ``noisemakers, flags, laser-pointers (lights), sirens, whistles, portable stereos (e.g. CD players and tape players), banners, horns, handheld signs and implements (e.g. poles, sticks and wires to support flags, banners or other such items at any school sponsored activity.''<<
Let's get BLAND!! Woo-Hoooo!!
Nerf World, here we come!
Obviously!
This can be interpreted in any way at a football game.. These people are nuts. Another angle is that academia always hated the sports programs at schools because they felt it overshadowed the classroom.
In case YOU didn't know, I live in North Carolina, and visit Gatlinburg at least twice yearly, and I am quite aware of the Maryville area. I resent being called a "damn yank" by the way.
The ACLU won't touch this one , and it's all about freedom of speech and expression . They won't protect an individuals right to boast this countries symbol , the flag .
A reminder to those numb nuts who dispise the Rebel flag , slavery started long before the Rebel flags existance . I'm pretty sure we were flying the american flag from 1776 on . Find some other REAL symbols of hate to attack.
First they removed God from the schools and now they are removing America from the schools. The NEA is nothing but a communist front hell hole. Amen.
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