http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080507/ap_on_re_us/flag_incident;_ylt=AiglEmEpIo1fq7WFveSb4utH2ocA

 

Call me old fashioned, but I think there is no problem at all with what this teacher allegedly did or did not do.

 

Honor your history, your culture, your heritage, but in an American public school system paid for by "taxpayers" of this country only one flag should be present and it is RED, WHITE, and BLUE.

I have no problem with him taking the flag, but he shouldn't have put it in the trash.

He should not have thrown it in the trash. We are America, the melting pot. We should embrace other cultures and nationalities. The student should have asked permission. And the teacher had every right to remove it. But to trash it was wrong. I can think of any number of ways to store it until it could be given back to the student.

If he was wearing the Mexican flag as a tshirt, should he have had to remove his shirt?

He should not have thrown it in the trash. We are America, the melting pot. We should embrace other cultures and nationalities. The student should have asked permission. And the teacher had every right to remove it. But to trash it was wrong. I can think of any number of ways to store it until it could be given back to the student.

 

 

:thumb: I agree with you on all points. I believe one can be a proud American and still celebrate diversity. I wonder if the teacher would have acted similarly if a student was displaying an Irish flag on St. Patrick's day.

:thumb: I agree with you on all points. I believe one can be a proud American and still celebrate diversity. I wonder if the teacher would have acted similarly if a student was displaying an Irish flag on St. Patrick's day.

 

According to the teacher's position, the point was that he was afraid of a potential skirmish between the Hispanic student and other students.

 

Not sure there is underlying tension going on that would lead to a skirmish with the Irish.

But to put the flag in the trash? That's a blatant disrespect for the Mexican flag. I can see removing it, but not trashing it.

According to the teacher's position, the point was that he was afraid of a potential skirmish between the Hispanic student and other students.

 

Not sure there is underlying tension going on that would lead to a skirmish with the Irish.

 

You're right. I forgot about passage in the story. I was originally thinking he may have been showing his personal prejudice towards the Hispanic student.

But to put the flag in the trash? That's a blatant disrespect for the Mexican flag. I can see removing it, but not trashing it.

 

I don't know. I have taken things from students and thrown them in the trash. In fact, most times that I have taken things and did not intend to return them, they went in the big yellow trash can on wheels.

 

I am not sure it was an action of disrespect rather than just an action of getting rid of something.

 

I believe the article indicated the teacher said he did NOT indicate to the student he was returning it.

But to put the flag in the trash? That's a blatant disrespect for the Mexican flag. I can see removing it, but not trashing it.

 

Yes, and I don't buy that he had "no place else to put it."

I don't think he should have thrown it away. Him taking it doesn't bother me.

 

Here's a video of something a little simualr. Let's hear what conversations this brings up.

 

http://

"Clint Straatman denies Froylan Camelo's version of events but said he took the flag Monday because "white kids" might have hurt the 16-year-old. He said he put it in a garbage can because he had no place else to keep it."

 

I find this to be a very disingenuous statement by the teacher. I have to believe there was somewhere - anywhere other than a trash can - to store the flag. And, in light of this apparently (at least to me) false statement by him, it makes me question his true intent in this situation.

 

Mark me down as describing his actions as "inappropriate."

Yes, and I don't buy that he had "no place else to put it."

 

Where in a school gym would he put it? Ours has no cabinets, no desks, no storage units, no closets.

"Clint Straatman denies Froylan Camelo's version of events but said he took the flag Monday because "white kids" might have hurt the 16-year-old. He said he put it in a garbage can because he had no place else to keep it."

 

I find this to be a very disingenuous statement by the teacher. I have to believe there was somewhere - anywhere other than a trash can - to store the flag. And, in light of this apparently (at least to me) false statement by him, it makes me question his true intent in this situation.

 

Mark me down as describing his actions as "inappropriate."

 

Why would he be storing it if he did not plan to give it back to the student?

 

The teacher denied, didn't he, saying that he was going to return it to him.

Why would he be storing it if he did not plan to give it back to the student?

 

The teacher denied, didn't he, saying that he was going to return it to him.

 

Come on. Seriously - he could find NO other place to "store" it than a garbage can?! It just doesn't pass the smell test for me.