Colorado Student Says He Was Told to Remove U.S. Flags (from Truck)

Fox News ^ | 9/5/2010

[markomalley]

A Colorado high school student wants an explanation from school officials after reportedly being told by security guards to remove American flags from his truck because they might make other students uncomfortable.

Jeremy Stoppel told Denver's KMGH-TV he received a ticket at Northglenn High School last Thursday for squealing his tires and subsequently had his parking lot pass suspended for two weeks. But he also was told by a campus security guard to remove two U.S. flags -- each 3-by-5 feet -- from the bed of his pickup truck.

"She said I should take my flags down. She said this is a school that focuses on diversity and she doesn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable," Stoppel told KMGH-TV. "How do you suppose anyone would feel uncomfortable in America with an American flag? That's where I'm confused."

Stoppel said he began flying the flags last week and wants to keep them for the upcoming 9/11 anniversary in honor of his cousin who is serving in the Navy. Stoppel and his father now want an apology from the security supervisor.

"To me, she's just threatening him, hoping that she can just bully him so he'll just take 'em down and just put his tail between his legs and say, 'I'm done. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry,' Dan Stoppel told the station. "And that's just not gonna happen."

[BenKenobi]

Man, I want one of those with a US and a Texan flag. :)

[Malinse]

FR comments.

I am new to FR so I thought I would share this: (letter to the principal)
Dear Ms. Lindmore.

I saw the story of the student who was told to remove the large flags from his truck at your high school. While I might think his “statement” making is a little over the top, I question your first amendment position. When I was in school (graduating class of 1972, Taft High, Southern California -first eighteen year olds to vote) we were encouraged to express ourselves freely. Self restraint and peer pressure normally took care of our crazies, but not always. Yet I don't think schools should censure freedom of speech. I personally think the Department of Education is partly responsible for your actions, by taking your ability to use your own reason and rationale, they make you nothing more than the police to their policies, but until we elect rational and reasonable leaders, we can't get rid of the DOE, yet. I believe your use of “diversity” and “causing uncomfort” as your reason to stop the young man from his overt patriotic gesture, is nothing more than a ruse to allow education the license to control the thoughts of young impressionable minds. I don't know the political bent of your community, but based on recent political developments I think you may be suffering from TMC (Too Many Californians), but that is no excuse for being anti-American through political correctness.

Yours sincerely

[Malinse]

I just received this from the Principal:
Dear Students, Parents, Staff and Community Members,

On Friday, September 3, 2010 it was brought to my attention that a staff member advised a student to remove two American Flags from his truck. It was wrong for a staff member to advise a student to take down his American flags. That staff member made an error in judgment.

Students have the right to display the United States flag on their own person and on their personal property, so long as the display of American flags doesn’t directly contribute to an unsafe behavior or a disruption to the learning environment.

Northglenn High School’s work in education is human-intensive. We’re dealing with hundreds of students and staff members, and on occasion, mistakes will be made. In this particular situation, a mistake was made and we’re sorry for that error. I have talked with both the student involved and the parents to apologize for this mistake. I have assured them that I will make sure staff is aware of student rights, and that our students are aware of the responsibilities that come with those rights. I know our community, and I’m confident that over time, what we’ve learned from this experience will make our school community even stronger.

To sum it all up: Northglenn High School was wrong in advising a student to remove the American flags from his truck. We apologize for this error and we will work to correct this situation with our staff. Anyone can fly their American flag, so long as it’s safe and doesn’t disrupt the learning environment. We’ll handle personnel matters as we always do, in line with Superintendent policy.

Sincerely,

Mary B. Lindimore, Ph.D.
Principal, Northglenn High School
720-972-4600
601 West 100th Place
Northglenn, CO 80260