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.

[Dante3]

It's like insanity. This country is being overrun by the enemy.

[Clemenza]

PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE EVIL! Yeah, there are a few with "good test scores", but most are run by unelected bureaucrats with school boards that are pawns of the teacher's unions.

I went to a private high school that was 1/4 Latino (mostly Colombian, Venezuelan, and Cuban), but the only two flags that were flown were that of the U.S. and the Vatican.

I am not a man of violence, but anyone who flies another nation's flag, whether of Mexico, the Confederacy or whatever, OVER the stars and stripes needs a knock in the head.

[Dr. Marten]

Let's start sending some angry callers their way.

http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/14888

tel: (303)651-0123

I will start calling on Monday morning.

Pass it on.

[lawdog]

Well this guy doesn't even qualify as a "sunshine patriot"... he is a walking advertisment for vouchers and home schooling... I wonder if this is him............hmmm

stumpf_thomas@stvrain.k12.co.us

[lawdog]

Oops... didn't see your post until I posted...

[kstewskis]

Denver principal is trying to pull the same thing.

Lock and load, my friend.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

My kids would be punished for skipping school. It is up to the parents to address the issue with the school.

[jan in Colorado]

Thanks for the ping! I am sooooooo mad I can't see straight! This school is in my district and I can't believe what I am reading.

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 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.

This entire week the Mexican flag has been shoved in our face. Kids have been driving up and down Main Street waving the Mexican flag and demanding their rights in this Country!

This is AMERICA! The ONLY flag to be flown here is the AMERICAN flag. To say that an American student can not wear a shirt with an American flag on it is outrageous!

I will be writing a letter to Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, as well as to the rest of my Colorado representatives!

FYI...St Vrain school district is on Spring Break next week!

If the American flag is offensive... get out of this Country!

[Euro-American Scum]

I've said it before. Buy all the weapons and ammo you can while you still can. No way the globalization of American can happen with 200 million guns in private hands.

[junta]

They sell American flag stickers for 50 cents perhaps these American patriotic kids can decorate their school.

[Borax Queen]

BTTT

[ican'tbelieveit]

I have been watching these so called "protests" going on here & all over the US all week. Needless to say, I am furious.

If you broke US immigration laws to come here and get a law, yes, you are a thug, criminal, etc.

And, any school that allowed the Mexican flag to be flow over the US flag should lose US TAXPAYER FUNDS. Mexican tax funds are not paying for them to do business, mine are, even though I homeschool my kids.

And, I am very disappointed in my community right now. Idiot principal.

[ican'tbelieveit]

*get a job

[jan in Colorado]

even though I homeschool my kids.

Hey, I home school my kids too! My daughter is taking a few classes this year at the high school, and the stories she comes home with are unbelievable. She out debates all the liberals so they don't even try to debate her any more! LOL

[stboz]

Si, senor! We are here to take jour steenkin' country and jour steenkin' houses.

[servantboy777]

"It's inflammatory to wave an American flag, but not to wave a Mexican flag?"

Doesn't that just chap the hell outta ya?

[hispanarepublicana]

electrify it.

[stboz]

Actually, senor, we are here to take jour stuff for our Patrones.....Los Jefes....jou know their names.

[ican'tbelieveit]

I have been having fun with my son recently. He plays online games with a young man in Hawaii. The kiddo goes to a private school, and he and my son are doing about the same thing in math, so he has my son help him. Which ultimately involves me helping him research problems.

I am so glad that my kiddos are having to put up with the day to day stresses of a public school.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

Per the principal: We want respect -- that's our main goal at Skyline High School

I want the main goal of my public school system to be education.