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Students Sent Home for Wearing American Flags on Cinco de Mayo
posted by: Colin | May 06, 2010, 03:41 PM   

At Live Oak High School in California, several students were sent home for wearing shirts featuring American flags to school yesterday, Cinco de Mayo. The students, frustrated to be punished for displaying American flags, refused to turn their shirts inside out and were sent home to their equally frustrated parents. Administrators claimed the shirts were "incendiary" on a day when many in the school celebrate their Mexican heritage.

The school district has stated that it disagrees with the actions of the administrators at Live Oak High School and the boys' parents are considering a lawsuit. According to Eugene Volokh, a UCLA law professor, the parents would win their lawsuit easily: "It's almost open and shut."

Many would agree that a school should never forbid students to proudly wear an American flag on their shirt, on any day of the year. Some would go so far as to contend that displaying the American flag on a day of Mexican-American heritage is not insulting or incendiary. While it is believable that the assistant principal who sent the boys home was merely trying to avoid fights in his ethnically diverse school, he will likely find himself in a lawsuit for his error.

Yet another reminder to be sure you are protected in the classroom. For more about AAE's $2 million liability insurance and legal protection policy, which included in professional membership, click here: Liability Insurance.

Should the administrators be sued for their actions?
Have you ever been sued or threatened with a lawsuit while on the job?

Comment below.


Read about a student sent home for wearing the wrong team logo:
Student Sent Home for Wearing Colts Jersey (2/8)



Comments (4)Add Comment
...
written by Andi, via Facebook, June 01, 2010

One one hand, they have every right to wear the American flag on their t-shirts; on the other hand why did they choose Cinco de Mayo to do this and not every other day?
ethnic holidays
written by Warren, Colorado, May 26, 2010

Being of Irish descent I'm hardly offended by anyone wearing an American flag shirt on St. Patrick's Day because I'm an American first and that day is of no more importance here than cinco de Mayo. If some of the latino students were offended by the American flag perhaps they should pack up their bags and move to Mexico.
illegal
written by cesar san diego, CA, May 06, 2010

I agree it is completely illegal and unfounded to ask students to turn their shirts inside out. If I was a parent, I would demand an apology and maybe sue. I do know there is more to this, though. You should proudly wear the american flag on ANY day, but if you chose this day in particular and are trying to stir something up, then you can't expect administrators to sit idly by and ponder what could happen.
spanish teacher
written by amber trahan wi, May 06, 2010

It is sad that we are all trying to so politically correct that it has now become offensive to proudly wear the american flag. Everyone should be proud enough to celebrate their heritage no matter what day it is.

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