Idaho student says teacher tossed his Mexican flag in trash

[almaty 19]

TWIN FALLS, Idaho - A high school student says he may file a lawsuit against a physical education teacher who took a Mexican flag he had brought for Cinco de Mayo and put it in the garbage.

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.

Camelo said he was changing into gym clothes at Minico High School in Rupert when Straatman told him, "Give me the flag."

"I said, 'What's the problem?'" Camelo, speaking in Spanish, told The Times-News of Twin Falls. "He said, 'The problem is that we are in the United States and not in Mexico.' He grabbed it from me. He threw the flag in the garbage can."

Camelo said that Straatman told him the flag would be returned at the end of the school day, but that Straatman taunted him instead.

"I asked, 'Where is my flag?'" Camelo said. "He said, 'What, the U.S. flag?' I said, 'No, the one for Mexico.' But he wouldn't give it to me."

Camelo said he then took the undamaged flag out of the garbage. He said he's been contacted by the American Civil Liberties Union and is considering a lawsuit against Straatman.

Camelo and others brought Mexican flags to the south-central Idaho school to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, the May 5 recognition of Mexico's victory over the French army on that day in 1862. About a third of the student body is Hispanic.

Straatman denied saying the words Camelo attributed to him, and said the student may have misunderstood him because of his poor English skills. He said he took the flag from Camelo after Camelo had been waving it in the school gym, and denied withholding it later.

"I had to confiscate it so it wouldn't escalate any problems in class," Straatman told The Times-News. "We're worried about that stuff all the time. We always have kids saying stuff to each other, and we have a lot of fights between kids."

Scott Rogers, superintendent of the Minidoka County Joint School District, said an investigation has been started. He said he could not comment specifically about personnel decisions.

"We believe in nondiscriminatory practices and cultural sensitivity," he said. "We train for that and talk about that. If there is a teacher making derogatory comments we don't approve of that. We also don't approve of a student disrupting the classroom."

Rogers said he was at the school early Wednesday and that the school was quiet. He said he noticed a few students wearing clothing in the colors of the Mexican flag — red, white and green — in protest of Monday's incident

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Uh-oh... can't wait for the "THEY SHOULD HAVE BURNT THAT DARN MEXICAN FLAG" crowd.

I think that the teacher is either history-ignorant or just plain stupid.

[Heracles 417]

Uh-oh... can't wait for the "THEY SHOULD HAVE BURNT THAT DARN MEXICAN FLAG" crowd.

I think that the teacher is either history-ignorant or just plain stupid.

Why? This is the United States not Mehicooooo.

[mawilson 2,133]

Isn't Cinco de Mayo a US-American holiday anyway?

They certainly don't celebrate it in Mexico.

[Heracles 417]

Will the Latino kid at least file the lawsuit in English not Spanish.

Here come the wankers to the rescue.

He said he's been contacted by the American Civil Liberties Union and is considering a lawsuit against Straatman.

[HAL 9000 96]

He said he noticed a few students wearing clothing in the colors of the Mexican flag — red, white and green — in protest of Monday's incident.

At least not all the kids involved are willing to be complete idiots in the matter.

[Jenn! 918]

There are Mexicans in Idaho?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Uh-oh... can't wait for the "THEY SHOULD HAVE BURNT THAT DARN MEXICAN FLAG" crowd.

I think that the teacher is either history-ignorant or just plain stupid.

Why? This is the United States not Mehicooooo.

That fact doesn't mean that you can get away with abusing someone's personal property just because you happen to not like it.

[HAL 9000 96]

Uh-oh... can't wait for the "THEY SHOULD HAVE BURNT THAT DARN MEXICAN FLAG" crowd.

I think that the teacher is either history-ignorant or just plain stupid.

Why? This is the United States not Mehicooooo.

That fact doesn't mean that you can get away with abusing someone's personal property just because you happen to not like it.

Should've seen a Kiwi friend of mine do that same flag trick to one of my Aussie friends.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Uh-oh... can't wait for the "THEY SHOULD HAVE BURNT THAT DARN MEXICAN FLAG" crowd.

I think that the teacher is either history-ignorant or just plain stupid.

Why? This is the United States not Mehicooooo.

See? I knew the BURN'EM'FLAG crowd would arise. Boy I'm good.

Uh-oh... can't wait for the "THEY SHOULD HAVE BURNT THAT DARN MEXICAN FLAG" crowd.

I think that the teacher is either history-ignorant or just plain stupid.

Why? This is the United States not Mehicooooo.

That fact doesn't mean that you can get away with abusing someone's personal property just because you happen to not like it.

Should've seen a Kiwi friend of mine do that same flag trick to one of my Aussie friends.

WUT? Does Australia actually HAVE a flag??????????

[Heracles 417]

Uh-oh... can't wait for the "THEY SHOULD HAVE BURNT THAT DARN MEXICAN FLAG" crowd.

I think that the teacher is either history-ignorant or just plain stupid.

Why? This is the United States not Mehicooooo.

That fact doesn't mean that you can get away with abusing someone's personal property just because you happen to not like it.

Personal property in a public school. What if a kid brought a weapon to a school. Is that also considered pp? Is a noose also considered PP?

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Personal property in a public school. What if a kid brought a weapon to a school. Is that also considered pp? Is a noose also considered PP?

HAHAHA no wonder you are fighting to get a job cutting grass! hahahaha your sense of logic keeps amazing me.

Edited May 7, 2008 by GueraYTavo

[Heracles 417]

Personal property in a public school. What if a kid brought a weapon to a school. Is that also considered pp? Is a noose also considered PP?

HAHAHA no wonder you are fighting to get a job cutting grass! hahahaha your sense of logic keeps amazing me.

You are right. Personally I would not have touched it. I don't touch flags from 3rd world countries.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

You are right. Personally I would not have touched it. I don't touch flags from 3rd world countries.

That's the best you could come up with??

Edited May 7, 2008 by GueraYTavo

[Heracles 417]

You are right. Personally I would not have touched it. I don't touch flags from 3rd world countries.

That's the best you could come up with??

I didn't even need to try. I could go on and compare the countries but that would end up laughable. This Mexican power ####### may work on Americans. Certainly does not work with me.

Certainly did not work back in high school where we got suspended, senior year, from brawling on school grounds. To cut a long story short. 20 Latinos vs 18 Greeks, Italians and Asians. These guys where also 23 and not 17 like us. One of us ran home to mommy. Who do you think it was?

Edited May 7, 2008 by Boo-Yah!