Posted on 05/12/2010 11:49:55 AM PDT by nickcarraway
A week after a school Morgan Hill made national news for sending five students home for wearing American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo, a school in Monterey County finds itself in the flag spotlight.
This one involves an art project. A Salinas middle school student said her teacher stopped her from drawing the American flag, while another student's picture of President Obama was praised.
Tracy Hathaway said the art teacher at Gavilan View Middle School told her daughter she couldn't draw the American flag because it was offensive.
Hathaway said they were shocked when they heard what happened. They have met with the teacher and principal at Gavilan View Middle School, but were not satisfied with outcome of that meeting. When the parents asked the teacher what she thought was offensive about drawing, the teacher didn't answer them, Hathaway said.
The Hathaways now want a "real" apology.
"My daughter wasn’t trying to break any rules and she wasn’t trying to create a scene," Hathaway told Fox radio. "She was just expressing her view and saying this is America and I want God to bless it."
The Hathaways said the issue isn't about race, adding that the teacher is white.
Racism crept into the discussion following the Fox report. The school says it has received more than 200 e-mails and phone messages in recent days, most of them containing hateful and racist comments. "(Messages say) that we have violated that student's First Amendment rights and the so-called teacher needs to 'get the hell out of my country,'" said District Superintendent Mike Brusa.
Brusa said another meeting is planned for later his week between the teacher, parents and Hathaway, and that an apology may be in order.
Although Brusa wouldn't discuss whether any disciplinary action has been taken, or will be, the teacher involved wasn't on campus Monday.
The incident actually happened several weeks ago, but KSBW television covered the story Monday night. At the time of the Fox report, School District Superintendent Mike Brusa sent Fox the following statement:
When we were aware there may be additional concerns, I asked the administration to contact parents again to see if there is any expectations from prior contact that have not been met. The Principal did so, and indicated the parents were satisfied that the situation had been handled. They told the Principal they had twittered Fox and had indicated that the situation had been handled. Secondly, there are 3,000 students in the district, 250 employees, and parents that go with the students. Every day there are many interactions that occur between all these individuals. As I indicated, this event occurred several weeks ago, and in that time there would be literally thousands of events large and small between the people involved with the school. This was one small event that did not even come to the level of my office. There is an informal and formal process that is used to resolve issues. The school administration and the parents did not view this as significant enough to bring it to the Superintendent’s office. Thank you for allowing me to clarify this situation.
Ewwwwwwwww! it says God!
The perils of sending your child to public, union controlled schools. Especially in Kalifornia...
I think it’s beautiful.
A Masterpiece.
We can’t live with these people.
They must be utterly defeated and all their bases of power dismantled,
or we must separate.
What? they don't want to go to another country with "rich culture"? Fine, kick their asses into the pacific; without floaties.
HA HA, there’s only fifty stars on that flag. Instead of the fifty seven Obama says.
This would make a great tea party banner...
I couldn't agree more. The current situation in this country is like a marriage in which both parties know it's emotionally "over," and the only thing holding the "union" together is uncertainty on how to divide the assets.
Hannity interviewed the family last night and told the girl who drew it if it’s for sale, he’d like to buy it.
Civil war is coming.
You just have to separate them in the right direction - about 6 feet vertically should work.
It saddens me this child has to be cursed with having to grow up there. CA is NOT hospitable to pro-American sentiment.
America appears to have finally reached that “line” which shouldn’t be crossed. The sleeping giant has (hopefully) awakened.
I'd recommend holding an auction and using the proceeds to fund her transfer to a private school.
I just made it the background on my computer. :)
Point conceded.
my brother says that when he is elected president, he will order all stupid people to be removed to california. then he will order strategic underground nuking of the san andreas fault to excise the stupidity from the mainland and let the whole island country of california rot.
I fear the sleeping giant may have awakened too late. I see the situation as irreconciliable.
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