Teacher Refuses to Display American Flag

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Controversy over child's flag drawing

Teacher allegedly refused to hang up picture

ORANGE, Mass. (WWLP) - A civil rights controversy is brewing at an elementary school in the Town of Orange, and it all surrounds an11 year-old's drawing of the American Flag.

The family of Frankie Girard is claiming that their son's civil rights were violated after a teacher allegedly told him that hanging his picture of the American flag would offend another student.

The Butterfield Elementary School is at the center of controversy for the incident on Monday. According to Frankie Girard’s father, John, the boy was in art class drawing a picture.

"He was denied hanging the flag up. And, he asked if he could just even hang it on his desk, and he was told no. He could take the picture that he drew and take it home and be proud of it there,” Girard said.

According to his father, the teacher told Frankie that his drawing of the American Flag would offend one of his classmates. "We’re allowing him to display his civil rights and be proud of who he is, but we’re denying Franklin those same rights," Girard said.

22News tried to contact the Superintendent, Dr. Paul Burnim. He refused to go on camera, but told 22News over the phone that nobody ever told Franklin the drawing was offensive, and said the only reason it wasn't hung was because Franklin was supposed to be doing other work; not drawing a picture. In a statement he said: "Each of our schools flies the American Flag every day. At the Butterfield School, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited by students and staff. And the other schools recite the Pledge of Allegiance at least once per week."

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/franklin/Controversy-over-child%27s-flag-drawing

[^_^ 5,021]

... the Superintendent, Dr. Paul Burnim ... told 22News over the phone that nobody ever told Franklin the drawing was offensive, and said the only reason it wasn't hung was because Franklin was supposed to be doing other work; not drawing a picture. In a statement he said: "Each of our schools flies the American Flag every day. At the Butterfield School, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited by students and staff. And the other schools recite the Pledge of Allegiance at least once per week."

another right-wing smear job?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

told 22News over the phone that nobody ever told Franklin the drawing was offensive, and said the only reason it wasn't hung was because Franklin was supposed to be doing other work; not drawing a picture.

Ah but then there wouldn't be controversy or threads on VJ for people to bellyache about the evils of political correctness

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

another right-wing smear job?

You want to stifle creative patriotic artistic talent?

[Vi-Jay 218]

"Don't let me keep on walking on broken glass."

[Zero Sum 305]

You want to stifle creative patriotic artistic talent?

What's there to stifle?

The dumbing down of America?

[Vi-Jay 218]

How 'bout we protect our children from ourselves?

or at least, Some of us.

Edited May 16, 2011 by Vi-Jay

[Ban Hammer 13,098]

[slim 1,514]

America, f'k yeah!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

America, f'k yeah!

Americans have a love/hate relationship with their country.

America is the flag, mom, and apple pie, but the government continues to morph into something nasty, sort of like going to bed with Charlize Theron, and waking up with Rosie O'Donnell.

[Vi-Jay 218]

Americans have a love/hate relationship with their country.

America is the flag, mom, and apple pie, but the government continues to morph into something nasty, sort of like going to bed with Charlize Theron, and waking up with Rosie O'Donnell.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Taking the American flag down because it might offend someone is ridiculous. If the kids account of the story is correct they deserve the heat if not the parents need to apologize. I dont think the story would of got national attention if there wasn't some truth to it.

Edited May 16, 2011 by _Simpson_

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Taking the American flag down because it might offend someone is ridiculous. If the kids account of the story is correct they deserve the heat if not the parents need to apologize. I dont think the story would of got national attention if there wasn't some truth to it.

If the kid wasn't doing the work he was supposed to be doing, there's no controversy. Who do you want to believe?

[_Simpson_ 250]

If the kid wasn't doing the work he was supposed to be doing, there's no controversy. Who do you want to believe?

We dont have all the facts so I cant take a side.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

We dont have all the facts so I cant take a side.

Never stopped you before.