David Crockett Students Are Upset Over Confederate Flag Issue
AP
Students and parents at one Tri-Cities school don’t agree with a decision by the school to not allow any t-shirts, flags or other items with the rebel flag symbol on it. SOUND OFF: Is this infringing on students’ freedom of speech? Were the flags being used to pay tribute or intimidate fellow students?
Published: November 14, 2008
Updated: November 14, 2008
Controversy is swirling at one high school in the Tri-Cities. Several viewers contacted News Channel 11 asking why the rebel flag had been from David Crockett High School.
“They are trying to make them take the stickers off their cars and everything,“
said Devon Lewis, student.
Parents also have issue with the new rule.
“I believe that people should be able to fly the flags they like to fly without everybody getting their feelings hurt,“ said Shawn Berry, parent.
Students said they were told by the school on Wednesday that the rebel flag or t-shirts and other items with the rebel flag on it will not be allowed at the school. Lewis said that students were bringing the rebel flag to school in honor of fellow student Michael Payne who recently died after an ATV accident.
Lewis also told us that several fights broke out at the school between white and Hispanic students, and then the announcement was made to not allow the rebel flag.
“I don’t believe it’s a racial issue at all, it’s just a tribute to Michael,“ Lewis said.
Officials with Washington County Schools did acknowledge Crockett’s principal is not allowing the rebel flag symbol at school.
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Reader Reactions
I am the parent of one of these teenagers and they are trying to deal with the loss of a friend, so what if they want to fly a rebel flag in the bed of a truck or on a bumper ! BIG DEAL! For the ones that have lived here their entire life this is how we deal with things and we have raised or children to do the same, there is no harm done. There are more important things to worry about than a few teenagers saying goodbye in their own way to a friend. These boys and girls need to be able to express themselves without being labeled as trouble makers.
You can say it is just a flag, but for some reason it has become a symbol of the redneck south, to some. I just see it as another flag. I don’t think it is trying to undermine the higher status of the Flag of the United States. Some people associate it with the KKK, which has been in the news lately as they try to make their presence known in the area still, evidently. We could have all students dress exactly the same and take away their individuality and freedom of expression, turn out some robots, take away personal thinking. Anything is only as bad or good as others make it.
This is a symbol of American History. Come on… There are other flags that if were banned, the ACLU would be hot on it! I SUPPORT YOUR CONFEDERATE FLAGS! Everywhere you go, there will be something offensive to someone; what happened to freedom of speech? Apparently it no longer exist! I see offensive actions everywhere I go, that doesn’t make me turn from my morals and standards, I can for the most part just ignore it. That is what makes America! Freedom!!!
First of all the news needs to get to the bottom of this! Don’t just set around and let the school push this to the side! This is very wrong! Having children that go to Crockett it is hitting home. My children were friends and classmates with Michael Payne. They are flying their flag for him, not a symbol of hatred! Let me make it clear that I do not agree with the actions of the student arrested during the start of all this mess. But, If he was defending himself from another group, or of his right of freedom of speech and expression then I back him all the way! Mr. Marable why not give your side of the story to the press? What really happened Mr. Marable? You had an assembly with the entire student body. A heated assembly! Correct? You forbid any student from having in any from the confederate flag while at school. Who are you to demand that? You stated it was being used as a symbol of hatred and intimidation. Mr. Marable, that is you’re opinion. Let me say that noone has the right to force their beliefs on anyone or use those beliefs to intimidate. But, Mr. Marable are you not doing that very thing. You are using you’re position to intimidate the students. A threat of being suspended from school! Lets be honest. The reason all this started is one of the mexican students wrote a comment about the death of Michael Payne on a desk which angered his friends. It seems that you may have used this situation to advance your own beliefs and get rid of the confederate flag instead of taking care of the problem at it’s source. By banning the flag you addressed a symptom of the problem and not the cause. Education and knowledge in my opinion are the keys to resolving this problem. It seems that history has not been taught very well to students as most seem to think of the flag as a novelty with no historic meaning. The only meaning to them is they were born in the south and proud of it. Just ask your students the meaning of what this flag represents and see how many really know. I’m so tired of hearing its racial and used to intimidate! Bull! Lets be real, the racial side of this flag would be erased from peoples minds if everyone would quit using it as a scape goat. This is the United States Of America! We have the right to freedom of speech and expression!
For how many years has the Confederate flag flown without a word or comment made? All it takes is one person to start a “racial issue” and all of a sudden it is forbiden.It is HERITAGE NOT HATE.If you live in the South you should be proud of it.It’s a Southern Thang and ya’ll wouldn’t understand.
The confederate flag is a symbol of treason. It has no place in society and especially not in our schools.
This is a serious infringement on these students rights as American Citizens. A school very nearby has a rebel flag for their school flag. Sullivan South High School are the Rebels and they fly their flags at every sporting event. We live in the South. That flag is part of our heritage. And why on earth would the rebel flag offend a Hispanic student. I wouldn’t go to Mexico and get ticked because they flew a Mexican flag. Our region should be proud of our heritage and have the freedom to fly the rebel flag anywhere anytime we wish. I think every citizen in our area should adorn a rebel flag in some way for the next couple of weeks in honor of this fallen student and in honor of our heritage.
I agree with navyvolunteer. They should be able to pay tribute to their friend and display this flag. Almost everything else is allowed in schools and as far as the t shirts go I think they should be allowed too. It seems that the smallest things are always looked on as bad things. What about students dressing in Gothic clothes and makeup. Shouldnt that be stopped too. Im not judging anyone just using my right to free speech.
this has to be a joke. you cannot turn this honored flag into another symbol of hate. our families in this area fought and died for this sacred symbol. and if thats what this man who died believed in then the school should feel honored to have this flag flown high and proud just like the stars and bars that flies in the fron of the school now.
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