Family pull teen out of school after he’s told to remove American flags from his truck
A family has decided to pull their teen son from his school after he was told to remove the American flags from his truck.
Christopher Hartless, from Virginia, was shocked when he was told that he would have to take down the two large American flags that were hanging at the back of his truck due to school policy at Staunton River High School.
Large flags or banners on cars are not allowed for safety reasons, however, Christopher and his family were less than impressed with the rule.
The student said: “My family fought for America and I feel like I should be able to represent the flag that they fought for.”
BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — A Bedford County family is pulling their senior son out of Staunton River High School after they say the school told him to remove the American flags he mounted on his truck.
The school system policy reads ‘Large flags or banners are not allowed to… pic.twitter.com/ZSm33nqwE5
— Andrea Shaffer, Employment/Labor Law (@Andreafreedom76) August 22, 2023
According to a report by ABC4 News, Christopher added the school administration told him he needed to take them down because it was a “distraction.”
“I don’t understand how it’s a distraction if they have one on the flagpole that every other student can see,” he said.
Christina Kingery, who is Christopher’s stepmom, said that he went to school with the flags mounted on his truck before he was warned by the board.
Regardless of the rule though, she said she and her husband are going to support the senior student and his beliefs.
“If this is what he is believing in, me and his dad are both going to stand behind him all the way to the end of it,” she said.
Christina said that he also had his parking pass revoked and she doesn’t want him to have to ride the bus so the pair have pulled him from his classes with the aim of homeschooling him.
“If they’re willing to change and let kids want to fly the American flag, then I’ll put him back in Staunton River… possibly put him back in Staunton River, but if they don’t, then I’m going to continue to let him fly his flags,” she added.
After the drama reached boiling point, the high school addressed the matter via a statement.
“Last week, we conducted a standard review of the Student Code of Conduct. Unfortunately, there has been some incorrect information posted on several social media websites, so I would like to provide clarification about the American flag on student attire, safety provisions in our student parking contract, and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance,” it read.
“The student parking contract, which has been used by all three of our high schools for many years, states, ‘Large flags or banners are not allowed to be flown or displayed on vehicles due to their distractive nature,” the statement read before going on to clarify: “Please be assured that we proudly fly the American flag throughout the school, and the Pledge of Allegiance is recited every morning.”
Despite this though, Christopher’s mom wasn’t convinced, doubling down on her family’s views.
“I think that every student – doesn’t matter what you believe in, what flag you fly, as long as it’s not harmful and it doesn’t disgrace our country – you have the right to fly it,” she said.
