Students Who Want To Fly American Flags Walk Out

The Denver Channel ^ | 3/31/06 | Staff

[Millee]

More than two dozen students walked out of Skyline High School Friday morning to protest what they say is a ban that doesn't allow the American flag to be flown on school grounds.

Several students said that they were upset that Mexican flags can be waved around but that American flags couldn't. They said that school officials confiscated their American flags because it has become inflammatory because of recent immigration issues.

"When the immigration laws came out we noticed that a lot of Hispanics were waving Mexican flags and what we were thinking to ourselves is like, isn't the immigration law to stay in the country? You want to stay in America, correct? So I said, for every Mexican flag, you should have an American flag right next to it. So a few people went out and started waving American flags, and that's where everything bridged out," said Skyline student R.J. Fogal. "That's when they started telling us that we can't wave American flags, there's going to be no flags today, or everyone is going to be suspended -- whoever carries a flag."

"What we want to know is since when was it against the rules to have an American flag on a car, in a car, in your hands in a school?" said student William Cassity.

Skyline principal Tom Stumpf said that the school enacted a ban this week that prohibits students to display, wear or fly any flag -- American or Mexican.

"The (policy) evolved because the flags were being used, not as a symbol of cultural heritage, but the flags were being used as symbols of bigotry, a symbol of hostility. They were being used to inflame different groups and we're simply not going to tolerate that at Skyline High School," Stumpf said.

"My paramount obligation, my solemn obligation at Skyline High School, is to provide a safe and secure environment and with the flags being used as a catalyst to stir up the students, to stir up the environment, I cannot condone that ... One flag was thrown into the face of another group and another flag was being brandished in front of another group and it was done to raise emotions, and we don't want that. We want respect -- that's our main goal at Skyline High School," he said.

The school has a diverse population and some students say there have been tensions between different ethnic groups because of the national immigration debate.

"I think our whole society is on different sides of the immigration issue and I can't control that. All I'm asking from our students is respect -- respect for one another, treating each other as they themselves want to be treated, treating each other decently, civilly," Stumpf said.

He said the students have a right to rally and those who walked out of class on Friday would not be punished.

[Trteamer]

Someone needs to remind this idiot principal exactly which country the school is located.

I know just the bunch of Colorado FReepers to do just that!

Anyone up for FReeping a school boad meeting?? Longmont, Colorado PING!

[trubluolyguy]

I am coming o this conclusion lately. Leave the illegals alone. Totally alone. No schools. No medical care. No welfare. And at job sites, don't go after illegals. Go after the employers. Every patriotic American ought to make it a priority to locate a local business that hires illegals, and turn the business in to ICE. Do it as often as you need to in order to get action.

[Trteamer]

The Board of Education for the St. Vrain Valley School District consists of seven members, each residing in a different geographic section of the St. Vrain Valley School District. They are voted on by the entire electorate of the District.

Regularly scheduled public meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Educational Services Center, 395 South Pratt Parkway, Longmont, Colorado 80501.

Wednesday, April 5 No Meeting - Spring Break

Wednesday, April 12 6:00 pm Goldstar/25 Year Employee Recognition 7:00 pm Regular Meeting

Wednesday, April 19 5:00 pm Worksession

Wednesday, April 26 6:00 pm Worksession - Monthly Financials 7:00 pm Regular Meeting

[jan in Colorado]

You won't believe this, PING!

Make sure to watch the video with the students being interviewed.

I never believed I would see the day when our flag would be disrespected in this way at a public school in this Country!.

[beaversmom]

Holy cow! How many assistant principals does a school need?

[Windsong]

So you'd support Israel. OK..are you prepared to support Taiwan in the event of an invasion, and send your kids (or yourself) to fight the Chinese?

Since Taiwan is an ally?

[TheForceOfOne]

Hey lawdog, did you see this article yesterday in the Washington Times?

Room For But One Flag

Excerpt:
In 1907, during one of the great immigration waves, President Teddy Roosevelt said that the immigrant who comes here "in good faith ... shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin." However, he added, "We have room but for one flag, the American flag."

[Tammy8]

LOL, I bet he gets a few more than the usual number of emails in the coming days.

[TheForceOfOne]

You know, if we could get Rush to mention the website or the email address it would crash their server. I've seen it happen many times when Rush turns millions of listeners in one direction at once. Now that's power baby! lol

[TheForceOfOne]

Same here, and I also fly the "Don't Tread On Me" flag.

It looks like flag day on my street most of the time.

[La Enchiladita]

Oh, he's from WISCONSIN, that explains it. LOL.

Thanks for the contact info.

Mr. Stumfp will be hearing from this patriot.

[jan in Colorado]

I will be out of town on the 12th and the 19th, but I think going to the school board is a great idea.

I think we need to notify Mike Rosen, Glenn Beck etc. as well as our Congressmen. This ban is unconstitutional.

This makes me even madder than those blame America, anti- American leftists we counter protest!

[La Enchiladita]

This man needs to hear from you:

stumpf_thomas@stvrain.k12.co.us

[peggybac]

The jobs no American wants to do???????.....PRISONERS can do them to pay back society for their crimes."

I like your thinking.

And while we're at it, get the New Orleans' welfare lovers to work the jobs too. (Sorry, I don't know how to italicize your quotes.)

[La Enchiladita]

Thanks for the ping, B4.

Will do.

[Nik Naym]

This doofus needs FOUR assistant principles?

Must be an idiot if he needs that much help doing nothing all day.

[SeaBiscuit]

"We have room but for one flag, the American flag."

Bully!

[Trteamer]

This issue is going to blow up in the principles face.

[Howie66]

"And while we're at it, get the New Orleans' welfare lovers to work the jobs too. (Sorry, I don't know how to italicize your quotes.) "

Don't feel like the "Lone Ranger"....I don't either!

And............I LIKE YOUR THINKING, TOO!

[TheForceOfOne]

That's where all the money that is meant for the chil'ren goes. It's all about the chil'ren they tell us. Think about the chil'ren!