It’s time for a one flag policy in Paso Robles schools

July 15, 2024

OPINION by KENNEY ENNEY

Today I look at the threats that our nation faces from within and without and I wonder if the light of freedom that has been entrusted to us by the founding fathers will go out forever under our watch. The love of country; that thread of patriotism that has stitched together black Americans and white Americans, Christian Americans and Jewish Americans, Latino Americans and Anglo Americans into one people is no longer taught in our schools.

Patriotism is now seen as a “hate” word and “patriots” are seen as “right wing extremists.”

No longer do we instill in our children a unifying collective pride in our country, but instead we teach the divisive message of victimhood that pits one group against another. Only 13% of high school students meet national standards in U.S. History. No longer do we teach about the glories of our Constitution, our Republic and the duties of citizenship. Only 22% meet standards in U.S. civics and only 33% of adult Americans can pass the citizenship test that is required for an immigrant to become an American.

There is a crisis of confidence in all levels of government from the local school board to the Office of the President. Although our motto is E pluribus unum – out of Many One, in the age of identity politics, we have no more sense of a shared identity or history.

We celebrate individualism more than community. Our tribal flags are more revered than the American flag. Our motto for the 21st Century is now Ex uno multis – out of one many, and as a result, the fabric of our nation is tearing.

We are a nation divided and a community divided, constantly bombarded by the media with stories about the “evils” of the other side and the “threat” that they pose to your way of life or my way of life.

The frontline for the culture wars has become our schools as opposing forces vie for control of the minds of the next generation. As a school board trustee this past year I have been discouraged by the fact that board members, the former superintendent and administrators have made country and citizenship an afterthought in the education of our children.

I would have never expected to have to argue with progressive board members and staff to have a resolution honoring Memorial Day, or Constitution Day, or Veterans Day. I would never have expected that it would be acceptable in the eyes of progressive administrators and board members to have the American Flag take a back seat to various political or social cause flags.

I would never have expected that board members would knowingly leave in place policies that actively violate the rights of some in order to appease a vocal fringe minority.

On Oct 22, 2021, Curt Dubost unilaterally released updated flag standards. The intent was to “ensure that hate speech and bullying conduct did not create an unsafe campus environment.” It outlined  what rights to free speech both students and faculty have on school property.

Display of flags and banners in the classrooms fell primarily under teacher rights. Based on what was then current Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) law, the memo stated, “courts have consistently held that when teachers make statements, advocate for particular points of view, and/or post specific items on walls or bulletin boards-they are acting pursuant to their official duties and their speech is not protected under the First Amendment.”

Therefore, “in the classroom, teachers act on behalf of the district and are expected to follow the adopted curriculum.”

In leading or guiding discussions about issues that may be controversial, “a teacher may not advocate his or her personal opinion or viewpoint…. The teacher is supposed to take a neutral position on controversial issues.”

The memo went on to give “practical examples of what a teacher cannot display in the classroom or in the teachers’ background (the virtual classroom): – signs, banners, etc. supporting a political candidate/party/state proposition; – signs, banners, etc. supporting social causes (e.g. BLM, thin blue line, etc.); – flags (uhe Unoted States and California flags can always be shown because they are part of the standard furnishings; other flas are subject to a case by case analysis and should not be posted if to promote an idea or viewpoint; signs or banners that promote a religious viewpoint.”

In May 2022, seven months after this memo was released, SCOTUS ruled 9-0 in favor of Mr. Hal Shurtleff, a Christian. His group had applied to have the city of Boston fly a Christian flag over City Hall on Constitution Day in 2017.

Under the application process, Boston had routinely allowed LGBTQ and other social issue groups to fly their flags (284 approvals), but only denied Mr. Shurtleff and his Christian group the right to fly their flag. The end result of the decision was that if a government entity is going to let one group fly their flag, then all groups must be allowed to fly theirs.

When I joined the school board in May 2023, there were more LGBTQ flags than American flags displayed in the high school. Although the district did take the necessary steps to ensure new American flags were displayed in every classroom, flags and banners of certain groups, like the pro law enforcement “Thin Blue Line” flag, remained prohibited.

Although the former superintendent and the PRJUSD Board of Trustees were/are aware that this was likely a discriminatory act, the progressive majority refused, and still refuses to allow the issue before the board for a vote. At a minimum, the policy should be rewritten to either allow all groups: good; bad; popular; unpopular, to fly their flags, or only allow the American and California flags to be displayed.

With the nation as divided as it is following the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump on July 13, in my opinion it is time to start repairing the damaged fabric of our Republic and community by having a “one flag” policy in our schools.

It has been 20 years since I was deployed in Fallujah, Iraq. On July 4, 2004,  three young Marines were killed in an ambush just outside of the town. I was a passenger in CH-46E Sea Knight flying back to Fallujah from a meeting in Baghdad when the crew chief told us that our helicopter was being diverted for an emergency evacuation.

Within a few minutes we had landed in a field and three stretchers were loaded into the back of the aircraft. On those stretchers were three lifeless casualty evacuation bags; “body bags.” Upon each bag was pinned a small American flag.

During the short flight to Fallujah I prayed for them and their families.

It never crossed my mind as to whether they were black, white or brown. It never crossed my mind as to whether they were straight or gay. It never crossed my mind as to whether they were Jewish, Christian or Muslim. It never crossed my mind as to whether they were Democrat or Republican. None of that mattered.

What mattered was that they were brave United States Marines who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and each one laid beneath the American flag.

As we celebrate our Republic’s 248th birthday this month, we should remember Ronald Reagan’s famous quote: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

“We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

Contact your school board and ask for a “one flag” policy.”

 


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There is only 1 flag that we pledge an oath to at school. By definition we have a 1 flag policy now.

Call when we have they have the kids pledge an oath to the Pride or a Giants Pennant Flag.

Their mere existence should not be a problem, unless you believe a contrary idea or belief is a bad thing. Exposing kids to an idea is not indoctrination. That is what oaths are for. When your child comes home and shares they saw a Pride Flag in the class you are free to share your own thoughts on that flag—good or bad. Removing books, removing flags, removing IDEAS and Concepts, is a reverse form of indoctrination. I believe in the “capitalistic” free market of thought in our schools, not the fascistic one you prescribed for our kids.


Nicely written and thoughtful article Mr. Enney. Thank you.


The only flags flown in public schools, government buildings and public places should be the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the state.

Other flags that relate to subject matter should be displayed (pinned to a wall not flown from a pole) such as FFA, 4-H, flag of Spain in Spanish class, flags of countries in geography class, confederate flag in history class and so forth. Political and social issues and symbols have no place in tax funded schools and areas.


Many SLO County public meetings today begin with The Pledge of Allegiance while facing the US Flag. (Avila Beach CSD) Was common practice at start of every school day when I attended California Schools.


Current California Pledge of Alliegance guidelines from ACLU

law. https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/asset_upload_file503_3546_0.pdf


Here we go again. This should be fun.


I’m old enough to remember when schools used to also fly the California state flag. Nothing to do with this writer’s real point, but just saying.


When you have people like Boebert demand that the Church rules the government, “The Church is supposed to direct the government…And I’m tired of all this separation of church and state junk that’s not in the Constitution.”

@RepBoebert and No one challenges her because ANYTHING said is deemed an attack on Christianity.


The Treaty of Tripoli states that The United States is NOT a nation founded on Christianity. t was ratified by the United States Senate unanimously without debate on June 7, 1797, taking effect June 10, 1797, with the signature of President John Adams.


Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen (Muslims); and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan (Mohammedan) nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.


These are facts.


Regardless of your opinion, There are standards in place and FORCING one flag to be displayed goes against everything the flag stands for. When Kaepernick kneeled to protest something, I heard Veterans say they’d never watch another football game. As a veteran myself, I had to remind them that THAT’S what we wore the uniform for, so ordinary people had a voice without being placed in a Gulag. Look at the stands at a baseball game. when I was on Active duty, I attended a few baseball games in San Diego, Anaheim and Chicago and I was aghast at the people that did not stand for the national Anthem and I stood there with my hand over my heart seething and I said something to my father in law who served in the Cuban Missile Crisis that I wanted to go find the biggest SOB and throw him over the railing. HOW DARE HE? My mother in Law said “Maybe they can’t stand” I argued “ALL OF THEM?” my father in Law said “Remember what you’re defending, you’re supposed to be defending them. They would be in jail in Iran or the Soviet Union so be glad they can be as comfortable as they are being free” (it was 1980) Now a days the argument always turns to the Portland BLM groups which anyone with a brain disagrees with. Whether you agree with the view of the protestor or support their cause anyone protesting should not be destroying property, ever.


You mentioned that Only 22% meet standards in U.S. civics and only 33% of adult Americans can pass the citizenship test that is required for an immigrant to become an American. Well, lets look at some information readily available that is either willfully ignored, or just not known.


When you take time to single one point of view such as “one flag should be displayed”, you arbitrarily ignore all of the violations that the “Patriots” are committing with that very flag.


We see so called “Patriots” flying with the flag upside down because their feelings are hurt over one decision or another.


(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property. THAT is not only being ignored, it’s being celebrated.


(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. We see it on hats, decals, at conventions, stickers and jackets ALL in direct violation of the U.s Flag Code.


We watch during major sporting events the bigger the flag, the better being carried out HORIZONTILY.


There’s a Pop up sales kiosk selling Paraphernalia on El Camino Real near Curbaril in Atascadero and there are MANY articles with the American flag on them. I absolutely guarantee you that they have NEVER read the flag code, know it exists, or care what its content is. They are selling things to make money regardless of what is WRITTEN and adopted. I remember Voltaire. “I wholly disagree with what you say and will contend to the death for your right to say it.


A flag in the classroom should be accompanied by an education about what it means, not just a symbol. If a Student see’s an American flag in their room, they should be taught how to care for it how it came to represent our UNITED State, HOW it is to be displayed and when you see someone driving around with it flapping in the breeze tattered and torn, it’s NOT a sign that you’re a patriot, it’s a sign that you don’t respect that very cloth your using for personal attention.


Only 6.2% of Americans are Veterans, Yes, agreed to fight if we have to for the very cause the flag stands for and maybe die in it’s cause,


I love seeing the American Flag. I woke up to it’s hoisting every morning and stood at attention, hand salute as they played TAPS lowering it for over a decade.


Thank you for your service, but remember right, wrong, or indifferent, those people that do things that we don’t agree with are allowed. We made sure of that.


“In May 2022…SCOTUS ruled 9-0 … if a government entity is going to let one group fly their flag, then all groups must be allowed to fly theirs.” I agree with this conclusion. I’m not certain what your position is. You sound like you also agree with this conclusion. It sounds like Mr. Enney also agrees. Is your concern that failing to abide by this decision, Mr. Enney wants the school district to allow no flags? I agree that this would be a far inferior result than flying all flags, but a far better result than only allowing selected flags.


You either allow ONE flag to be flown, the National flag, or allow ALL flags…good, bad, or indifferent… to be flown.


As Mr, Enney clearly pointed out, some flags that portray Conservative views are not allowed, due to administration or teacher bias and ignorance.


Well said…


Our children don’t go to public schools due to the many flags, political opinions, below average test grades, and overspending done on all levels. You won’t teach my kids that fake schooling.


We learned more of being a human by interacting with others. Sure academics are vital but so is being social. Hearing someone tell a story or joke from a world they don’t have access to. we’ve had generations of publicly educated students, and if you look at the Little Rock nine, there were people ready to kill because they didn’t want their children in school and exposed to “those other” people. But, they learned to get along, learned about their culture, learned about their struggles and learned to work together for a common cause. Of course you’re allowed to educate your children at home because you’re afraid that they’ll be exposed to the world they’re gonna live in when they leave home, but how are they going to learn to have a conversation, or a debate? One day they’ll be in the world that they know nothing about. I hope they’ll be OK.


That’s a tired old trope about home schooled children not socializing. It is debunked daily by the kids who don’t attend government schools engaging with their peers in churches/synagogues/temples, in gymnasiums and on the playing fields with youth sports, in scouting programs, in arts/crafts/music endeavors, and by engaging in games and play with their friends, other home schoolers and the kids in their neighborhood. Homeschooled kids get all the socializing and benefits as government schooled kids but without all the shortcomings increasingly attendant with those unpropitious institutions.