Oklahoma State Faculty Superintendent Ryan Walters advised the Fox Information Channel that his college district can be enacting new insurance policies to permit college students to indicate their patriotism after an Oklahoma highschool scholar was pressured to take away an American flag from his truck by college employees earlier this month.
Walters spoke on “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Saturday to declare that below new state college tips, no scholar might be punished for displaying the flag or exhibiting their patriotism. Somewhat, they are going to be inspired to like their nation and higher perceive its founding.
“We’re not going to tolerate this anti-Americanism,” Walters advised “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host Pete Hegseth.
Oklahoma State Faculty Superintendent Ryan Walters advised Fox Information Channel about new college tips selling patriotism. (AP Photograph/Sue Ogrocki, File)
The general public college superintendent’s look on the channel got here a number of days after Edmond North Excessive Faculty senior Caleb Horst was reportedly instructed by college officers to take away the American flag from the pick-up truck he makes use of to drive to highschool.
As Horst advised native outlet KOCO, college employees advised him it was college protocol to maintain flags off campus. Edmond Public Faculties denied their stance on flag flying had something to do with patriotism. They advised KOCO the observe was about security and to keep away from turning into a distraction.
“It is the practice of Edmond Public Schools to not permit students to fly or bring flags of any kind on our school campuses. This practice has been in place for several years and is explained to our students at the start of the school year along with various other policies and procedures. This is designed to prevent disruptions and distractions during the school day. It is also done in an effort to provide a safe school environment as flying flags on vehicles creates safety issues in the parking lot as well as can cause damage to other vehicles,” Edmond Public Faculty officers stated in an announcement beforehand supplied to Fox Information Digital.
The assertion added, “To be clear, this is not about the American flag or patriotism. Edmond Public Schools proudly displays the American flag prominently and in the proper, respectful way outside each of our buildings and in our classrooms. Not only do we recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning as we start our school day, but we also present the colors and play the national anthem at most of our athletic events. All of these things are done in the proper fashion according to flag etiquette.”
Horst stated that he had been flying the flags from his automobile for a while, and had been assured that the college wouldn’t attempt to step on his proper to free speech in displaying them.
“I’ve by no means actually had issues with it earlier than, and it’s our First Modification, so it’s form of exhausting for them to infringe upon our rights,” he stated.
Walters slammed the choice and signaled his division was working to alter state college guidelines to handle it.
“No school in Oklahoma should tell students they can’t wave an American flag. We’ve had Americans die for that flag, die for students to have the right to carry the flag, to wave the flag, to be proud of that American flag,” Walters stated in a video posted to X. “My department right now is working on guidelines that we will be issuing to districts to ensure that no student is ever targeted for having an American flag and also that our schools will promote patriotism.”
Fox Information Channel’s interview with Walters led off with a few of the new tips the superintendent’s division has enacted to forestall such incidents, amongst them one which obligates faculties to develop a transparent coverage that ensures flags might be flown and displayed, one other that requires college students within the state to recite the Pledge of Allegiance not less than as soon as per week, and one other guaranteeing that faculties file a report to indicate they’re complying with these tips.
RV RETAILER CAMPING WORLD DEFIES CALIFORNIA COUNTY ORDER TO TAKE DOWN GIANT AMERICAN FLAG
Edmond North Excessive Faculty senior Caleb Horst stated college officers advised him he couldn’t fly the US flag from his truck. (istock)
Walters advised Hegseth that he desires his faculties to face in opposition to the anti-Americanism pushed by the “Biden administration, by the teachers’ unions, by the radical left.”
“We’re not tolerating it in our schools. We want patriots. We want our students flying the American flag,” he declared.
The superintendent added that his administration has “acted swiftly to say this will never happen again. Every school in the state will protect the students’ right to fly that flag. We will fly that flag, and we will promote patriotism in Oklahoma schools.”
Walters additionally stated that the state’s faculties are “redeveloping our social studies standards to get more of an understanding of the American founding.”
“We need more patriotism. We’ve seen our schools become leftist indoctrination mills pushing hatred for country. That’s not going to happen in Oklahoma,” he declared.
The superintendent issued a memo to state faculties in June directing them to include the Bible and Ten Commandments into their curricula for grades 5-10, primarily for historic context. On the time, Walters acknowledged his directive aligns with academic requirements authorised in Might 2019.
Fox Information Digital’s Greg Wehner and Kristine Parks contributed to this report.
