"A free country does not compel its citizens to pledge allegiance," one person commented.
Not all the comments were negative, however, and there was a good deal of support for Pitzen and her colorful Pride pledge of allegiance. We take this matter seriously and are investigating and addressing it." The Newport-Mesa Unified School district later posted a statement to their Facebook page saying they were aware of the incident and that, "showing respect for our nation’s flag is an important value our district instills in our students and is an expectation of our employees. And I packed it away, but I don’t know where and I haven’t found it yet."Īnother person posted to Facebook, saying that Pitzen "is an absolute disgrace to teachers" and warned the teacher to keep her own "views and political stances out of the classroom." Herring concluded by saying if Pitzen was so "uncomfortable" that she has to "belittle children that are asking for the flag for the pledge of allegiance, then find another career that is not effecting our youth." "But I took it down during COVID because it made me uncomfortable. "It used to be there," she said in the video, pointing to a corner of the whiteboard behind her. Except for the fact, my room does not have a flag." "So my class decided to stand but not say the words. "I always tell my class stand if you feel like, don’t stand if you feel like it, say the words if you want, don’t say the words if they don’t want to," Pitzen said in the video, referring to how student take part in the pledge of allegiance in her class. Kristin Pitzen, whose now-deleted LinkedIn profile noted she teaches 11th grade English at Back Bay High School in Costa Mesa, Orange County, posted the video to her since-deleted TikTok profile where she laughingly describes the incident. "I just want to see support for different people and people feeling welcome and not having to hide who they are," she said.Ĭlaudette Riley is the education reporter for the News-Leader.ORIGINAL, 8/30/21: A schoolteacher in California has become the focus of conservative angst after she posted a video to social media which showed her telling students to pledge allegiance to a Progress Pride flag rather than the American flag, which she had earlier removed from the classroom because it made her uncomfortable.
Harris said she wants students to have the type of experience she had in Missouri State, noting it was been "the most inclusive campus" and people have been open to listening to others' stories. "I'm part of the community and I just think excluding different people is wrong," she said. Rebecca Harris, a graduate student in creative writing, grew up in Ava and joined in the rally in support of Wallis and LGBTQ students. 'I pledge allegiance to the queers': California teacher sparks outrage by getting students to pledge allegiance to gay pride flag - as school board launches investigation Kristin Pitzen posted a. More: Kickapoo makes changes after push to remove Chiefs mascot, logo, traditions "I just want to see LGBT educators and students accepted and embraced in the school community," she said. A California teacher who went viral after bragging in a TikTok video that she had taken down the American flag in her classroom because it. Hood, 20, who is taking a year off of college, said action is needed. "Stuff like that is unfortunately common." Lou Hood, a 2019 graduate of Kickapoo High School, said the situation with the Neosho teacher was sad. In a separate TikTok post, the unidentified teacher. "Having pride flags in classrooms is a great way to show this and to build LGBT-inclusive schools and to combat bullying." 'I tell this kid we do have a flag in the class that you can pledge allegiance to,' the giggling teacher said, pointing at the Gay Pride flag. "They need to know there are people out there who accept them exactly how they are, that they are welcomed and supported," said Abby Garrett, a senior in music education at MSU, who organized the event. They said all public schools, large and small, should be welcoming and inclusive places for all employees and students. Wallis said school officials compared to the pride flag to "hanging the Confederate flag in my classroom."Ībout two dozen people rallied Thursday at the corner of National Avenue and Grand Street to support Wallis and other LGBTQ educators. 1 after refusing to sign a letter vowing, among other things, not to display any reference to gender or sexuality in his classroom. They held signs and waved pride flags for John M. View Gallery: Group rallies in support of Neosho teacherĪ group of mostly students rallied at the edge of the Missouri State University campus Thursday evening in support of a Neosho teacher ordered to remove a pride flag from his classroom.