Disappearance of United States Flags in Public Schools
Classrooms in Orange County Schools are without United States flags, yet teachers proudly display other flags.
On the first day of the 2023-24 school year at Orange County Schools students were welcomed into some classrooms with foreign country flags, Pride (LGTBQ+), straight ally, intersex, BLM and other State flags, but no United States or North Carolina State flags. How does that work when it’s time to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America?
North Carolina legislation requires United States and North Carolina State flags be displayed in classrooms. In addition, Orange County School’s Citizenship and Character policy requires the display of these flags to further develop an understanding of citizenships for students.
NC General Statue 115C-47(29a) states, “To Require the Display of the United States and North Carolina Flags, and to Require the Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. - Local boards of education shall adopt policies to (i) require the display of the United States and North Carolina flags in each classroom, when available, (ii) require that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance be scheduled on a daily basis, and (iii) provide age-appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. These policies shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. If flags are donated or are otherwise available, flags shall be displayed in each classroom.”
OCS Policy 3530 Citizenship and Character Education “requires the United States and North Carolina flag be displayed in each classroom, when available.”
Legal References: 36 U.S.C. 106(d); G.S. 115C-12(33), -47(29a), N.C. Session Law 2011-273
After a parent, who wished to remain anonymous, discovered there was not a United States flag in two of their child’s classrooms at Orange High School, the parent reached out to one of the teachers with the offer to donate a flag. The teacher responded with, “I had one last year so I either misplaced it or it was taken from my room so a small flag would be greatly appreciated.” In the meantime, interim Superintendent, Dr. James Merrill was emailed with concerns on the absence of United States flags in classrooms, a request that flags be displayed in all classrooms that were without one, and an offer to organize getting them donated if the district did not have any flags.
At the same time another concerned parent in the district reached out to the OCS maintenance department to inquire if they had any United States flags for the classrooms and to question why there are classrooms without one on display. This parent was told the district is in possession of flags for every classroom. Higher priorities by the maintenance department has delayed installing any flags that were in warehouse inventory and the department was short staffed. Nevertheless, a flag for one of the classrooms at Orange High School was installed the following week.
It is unknown how many classrooms among the thirteen schools in the district are without United States and North Carolina State flags. However, some insight was received from a prompt email sent in response to the email sent to the Superintendent coming from Chief Operations Officer of Orange County Schools, Dwayne Foster. He stated the following:
“At this time, all classrooms do not have an American flag displayed. A plan is in place to ensure flags are placed in those classrooms that are without an American flag. We appreciate your offer to donate flags, however, the District will be able to ensure American flags are displayed across all classrooms.”
This is the right action and response that the students and the community deserve.
Yet, concerns remain. Is it acceptable that Orange County Schools can disregard State legislation and their own school board policy? How long have flags been missing from classrooms and why were they removed? Perhaps it is custom to remove the flags at the end of the school year then put them back on display at the start of the school year? Is it plausible that teachers took it upon themselves to remove them?
A message is being sent to students when there is an absence of the United States flag in classrooms and in place there are other flags displayed front and center. The message being that activist, personal identity and awareness flags are held in higher regard than the United States flag when it is absent or smaller in size than the other larger flags. Furthermore, why are certain ideologies and groups that are represented through a flag chosen to be uplifted over others in classrooms? Is it part of a sound and basic education for teachers to display their solidarity flags such as Pride, BLM, sexual identity, awareness etc.?
Flags representing ideologies such as the Confederate, Nazi, and KKK are not permitted at OCS, as well as political flags promoted by employees. The debate being those flags represent hate and are not inclusive, but who decides what “hate” is and what is inclusive for all? On the other hand, one could also debate that the BLM, Antifa, Pride or any other identity flags are not inclusive to those who do not align with the ideologies behind the flag’s meaning, and that they also promote a political message to students. Allowing some flags but not others will never affirm all identities. A former OCS school board member said in a recent article on banning the Confederate flag, “You ban one flag, you’re going to have to ban every flag.” Does the district allow teachers to display religious flags such as Christian or Tibetan Prayer flags? Legally these religious flags are not permitted according to NC General Statue 115C-47(20c).(c1)
“The display may include, but shall not be limited to, documents that contain words associated with a religion; provided, however, no display shall seek to establish or promote religion or to persuade any person to embrace a particular religion, denomination of a religion, or other philosophy.”
This law could be applied to the current awareness, sexuality, and solidarity flags displayed in classrooms. Those flags promote and embrace certain philosophies. What other reason would a teacher decide to display them other than for the sole purpose of their promotion to students and self?
Where will the student’s attention be during the Pledge of Allegiance when there is no United States flag? Participating in the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms is also in decline. A rising trend in today’s society is people in the community that refuse to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance, which is their right. According to students at Orange High and Cedar Ridge High very few students stand and recite the pledge during the morning Pledge of Allegiance . Perhaps by displaying a United States flag in all classrooms and education on the true meaning of the pledge it will encourage more students to participate.
When you pledge allegiance to the flag you are making a promise of loyalty and devotion to this nation. Each word has a meaning:
I pledge allegiance. . . I promise to be true
. . . to the flag. . . to the sign of our country
. . . of the United States of America. . . a country made up of 50 sates, each with certain rights of its own
. . . and to the Republic. . . a country where the people elect others to make laws for them
. . . for which it stands. . . the flag means the country
. . . one Nation under God. . . a single country whose people believe in religious freedom
. . . indivisible…the country cannot be split into parts
. . . with liberty and justice. . . with freedom and fairness
. . . for all. For each person in the country—you and me.
If the generation currently in K-12 schools is not educated in citizenship and respect for this country, would we expect them to volunteer to protect and defend it if needed? Without education in citizenship, America will be left with a generation that fails to understand the meaning and value of being a citizen of the United States. Displaying a United States flag in every classroom is a great way to begin this education.