Know The Law

California Education Code, Section 38117:

ARTICLE 1. Apparatus and Supplies [38110 - 38120]

  ( Article 1 added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 5. )

  

38117.  

The governing board of each school district throughout the state shall provide for each schoolhouse under its control, a suitable Flag of the United States, which shall be hoisted above each schoolhouse during all school sessions and on school holidays, weather permitting.

The governing board of each school district shall provide smaller and suitable United States Flags to be displayed in each schoolroom at all times during the school sessions.

The governing board of each school district shall enforce this section.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)

If you're going to violate the law, you should be a little quieter about it--and not try to push your beliefs onto other people's children:

A California school district is investigating a teacher after she posted a video admitting that she encouraged her students to pledge allegiance to a gay pride flag after she removed the American flag from her classroom. 

"Okay, so during third period, we have announcements and they do the pledge of allegiance," the teacher, identified as Kristin Pitzen of Newport Mesa School District in Orange County, said in a video posted to social media. "I always tell my class, stand if you feel like it, don’t stand if you feel like it, say the words if you want, you don’t have to say the words."

She thinks she's being daring, but the US Supreme Court ruled in 1943 (during World War II) that students cannot be compelled to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school.  But let's continue:

"Except for the fact that my room does not have a flag," she said, explaining that she removed the flag during the pandemic and then whispered to the camera, "because it made me uncomfortable." 

She went on to say that one of her students asked where they should look during the pledge of allegiance since there is no American flag in the classroom. 

"In the meantime, I tell this kid, ‘We do have a flag in the class that you can pledge your allegiance to. And he like, looks around and goes, ‘Oh, that one?'" and points to the pride flag. 

At least the district is taking the correct approach:

"We are aware of this incident and are investigating. While we do not discuss employee related matters, we can tell you that showing respect and honor for our nation’s flag is a value that we instill in our students and an expectation of our employees. We take matters like this seriously and will be taking action to address it," public relations officer for the district, Annette Franco, told Fox News.

I cannot put my finger on the date when it became fashionable for Americans to say they hate the USA, but it wasn't so long ago.  I don't understand people like that.

I moved into my current classroom when I arrived at school in 2003.  There were no flags in the room.  I noticed that once (we absolutely do not say the pledge at my school) and shortly thereafter a student bought me classroom-sized US and California flags.  They still hang in the flag holders all during the school year; in June I furl them and put them in the locked closet so they'll be there waiting for me in August.  The student who brought me the flags graduated from ROTC and served in the Air Force.