Student Responses to Article on Flags in the Classroom

This post is inspired by an article titled “Anti-racist Arguments Are Tearing People Apart” that appeared in The Atlantic in 2020 (link). Author Conor Friedersdorf writes about argumentation that occurs when people in structured professional development or coalition-building activities voice differences of opinion that lead to train wrecks; “well-meaning people” who become “plagued by polarizing disagreements about the nature of anti-racism that undermine its ability to effect change.”

The point is, people inevitably are going to disagree on things, and when we attach fire-and-brimstone to our points of view and argumentation, things get volatile in ways that interfere with the project of coalition-building.

One problem I’ve noticed in meetings that tend to go this way: far too often, we teachers / educators / administrators / web enthusiasts debate issues without asking our actual students what they think. And all too often, these debates get nasty.

Case in point: on my Facebook page I saw an online kerfuffle tumbleweeding through my newsfeed. The rhubarb was over an article titled “Pride Flags and Black Lives Matter Signs in the Classroom: Supportive Symbols or Propaganda?” published January 25, 2022 on edweek.org (link).

To me, the first two paragraphs are the prompt, the fundamental issue:

“Should a teacher be allowed to place a Black Lives Matter sticker on their desk to let students know they oppose racism, or hang a Pride flag from their door to let their LGBTQ students know the classroom is a safe space?

Or are those actions another way for teachers to politically influence and divide students?”

What follows are the comments made by, presumably, educators, although I don’t think that’s true for everyone. Indented responses represent replies to ones above it:

“Too much focus on politics in the classroom. Yes, of course, politics comes up now and then … but it’s now too divisive. The classroom is where we come together … not divide by our political ideals.”

“human rights aren’t politics.”

“I think there’s a lot to discuss with that statement as these groups are, in fact, quite political. While they relate to human rights there’s a line between discussions on basic human rights and political groups.”

“It’s mainly divisive because of the way kids and adults are taught they can’t have different stances. They learn to assume what someone else is thinking or believing vs having an actual conversation to find out. When it comes to human rights though, such as Black lives mattering, the answer is clear. There should be no pushback or ‘alternative teaching of sides ‘ on the fact that Black Lives Matter.”

“Propaganda for what? Being inclusive? I know America as a whole hates the idea of that.”

“Why would Education Week post something knowing a teacher might be cancelled for expressing a viewpoint?”

“If your classroom or school needs flags or symbols of any kind to make a child feel safe or included then you’ve been failing your students at the most basic level. Do better.”

“Presentation is the deciding factor ~ Sometimes such may be a distraction to the overall learning process Critical Thinking and Emotional Intelligence must be wisely used concerning the matter each time”

“You can be inclusive without displaying flags. Follow your district’s faculty handbook / school board code. You can be an ally without making your entire persona and classroom environment about it.”

“As teachers we need to be inclusive for all. When we display a logo or symbol we could potentially make some students uncomfortable and not included. In my opinion it’s best for teachers to remain neutral and objective and not display any logo or symbol that could potential show support for one group over another. Stick to academics and do not be political or religious in a public classroom.”

“this is true, public or private. The only place for religion to be taught is in a religious school. And demanding a moral compass is not religion.”

“BLM is an ‘organization’ and any suggestion that if one doesn’t support BLM they don’t support the lives of blacks around the world is wrong. The BLM organization was masterful in creating their logo and flag the helps push their narrative if you don’t support BLM you’re a racist. To raise the BLM flag in public schools furthers the racial divide. Just my opinion.”

“and that’s likely how Derek Chauvin was raised. I refuse to allow students to blame COVID on the Asian population, to call Black students the N word, etc. I’m gonna love my students AND I’m going to teach them right from wrong. Academics is full of politics. The whitewashing of history is absolutely political. Education is political whether people want to admit it or not. Kids all around the US are being taught inaccurate and harmful versions of history because of the want to keep things as they’ve always been.”

“everything you just stated has nothing to do with logos or symbols in the classroom. You do not need to display a logo or symbol to stop hatred in the classroom. You need education. Academics is only full of politics if YOU make it full of politics. This is about displaying logos or symbols in the classroom, not about whether to allow hatred in the classroom. You appear to believe the only way to stop hatred in the classroom is to display objects that show your support of a group of people. I’m sure you would not approve of a conservative teacher displaying right-wing symbols or messages in the classroom. We should not make the classroom an extension of our personal beliefs. We MUST make it a safe space for ALL. Education is the only way to improve the future for our nation. A lack of good education has resulted in people who believe what they read on Facebook without fact checking it. Be an educator, not a parent.”

“actually I was moreso commenting on your statements of being inclusive of all and that education is not political. Not about displaying things. Interesting you assumed such. As a white woman it would be really easy for me to say education is not full of politics whereas If you truly look at all the different layers involved in education, you will see it is all full of politics. What’a outlined or left out of curriculums, who is employed, schools funded by property taxes, so on and so forth. All politics. The way curriculum is currently in most schools is not safe for all. It’s safe for students that fit into the dominant narrative.”

“you made no attempt to make your comment specific on one part of my comment instead of another. That is not being assumptive, that’s being logical. Also, I am not talking about the curriculum. That’s another story. This thread is about symbols and logos in the classroom. If you want to speak about another topic then message me and I would be happy to discuss it with you.”

“Are there right-wing symbols of inclusion?’”

“I suppose it would depend on your definition of ‘inclusion.’ If you mean inclusion for all then I do not imagine there are either right or left-wing symbols of inclusion for everyone. There are symbols you can display to support different groups of people. Yet, others may feel excluded. Did you see anything wrong with the points I made in my original comment? If so, please let me know.”

“Ah, supportive”

“The Supreme Court case Tinker vs. DesMoines (1969) lays it all out clearly. Teachers and students have the right to free speech in school unless it is disruptive. The political message or righteousness of the flag is irrelevant, the litmus test is does it cause a disruption. Case law says politics can not be the reason behind the ban for public schools, just the disruption. Confederate flags are not allowed in most schools nowadays because they cause disruption, not because of the political message. https://www.landmarkcases.org/cases/tinker-v-des-moines”

“Political props. PS BLM organization is under investigation”

So, then.

I quickly recognized this as a potential pedagogical strategy: teachers stop arguing with each other and ask students what they think (I also learned that even Education Week is not immune to the craziness of the internet). So I asked my in-person English 1C class (advanced college composition) at Yuba College.

Actually, the prompt I gave was just the first two paragraphs of the article (I’ll post it again here):

Or are those actions another way for teachers to politically influence and divide students?”

Here are their answers. Keep in mind this was an in-class free write of about 10-15 minutes (I replicated the language exactly as it appeared). Compare the responses, perhaps, to those of these educators above:

“For the first paragraph, I think teachers shouldn’t be allowed to place that propaganda in their classroom only for the benefit of the students. I think if teachers were to present that type of stuff in the classroom it would cause some conflicts within some students. I feel like teachers are their to teach that specific subject they’re obliged to, not show their political viewpoint. It would cause conflicts with the student-teacher relationship. For the second paragraph, I strongly agree with because it would feel like the teacher would be dividing me with other students due to what they’re trying to get across.”

“I think that a teacher should be allowed to place that kind of stuff in the classroom if they want because it’s their decision. If a teacher has a pride flag or Black Lives Matter in their classroom, then they should have every right to support that. But if students and parents get upset about it, then I think it’s best for the school district to decide if they can have that stuff in the classroom. Overall, I think anyone should be allowed to put things up that they support because that’s their decision.”

“I believe that teacher should be allowed to hang Black Lives Matter and Pride flags in their classrooms. I think those flags represent that the room is a safe space for all no matter how different you are. Hanging these flags would make students feel more welcome and comfortable.”

“I think people should be allowed to post LGBTQ and BLM flags if they want. These flags do not cause harm but comfort people who are included in those groups that they are in a safe space. People who may disagree can ignore it as it is not for them. People should not have to shy away from supporting others and hide their opinions to please others. However the tricky thing is people may argue that the confederate flag could be up for the reasons listed above (people support). These types of flags should not be posted as it shows support to a harmful group (racism).”

“I think that teachers should be allowed to display such things in the classroom. It is important to make all students comfortable in the learning environment and a Pride flag can do just that. Same thing goes with a BLM sticker.”

“I think teacher should be able to put flags. The comfort of students is important, even if the flags encourage students. I think that would be a good thing. Plus it’s not being forced upon them just shown to let everyone know.”

“I believe that teachers displace their beliefs as long as they don’t try to force it on their students, but they need to also respect students beliefs as long as neither sides support something hateful. Some teachers may also use it to politically influence their students. I strongly believe most politicians don’t care about BLM or LGBTQ individuals, they only appeal to them in order to get votes. Our own president used to pass racist bills to put black people in jail and he fully opposed gay marriage but now all of a sudden he’s on both of their sides.”

“I feel like teachers should be able to have black lives matter and LGBTQ+ flags or stickers in their class. I feel like it wouldn’t divide students because they’re already coming into the class divided and they already have their own opinions. If one student in a class of thirty doesn’t like the flags or stickers then oh well they can keep it to themselves.“

“I think teachers should be allow to have pride flags, and BLM flags hang. Students should express on who they are, or where they came from.”

“I don’t believe a pride or LGBTQ flag should be something associated with politics and be banished in schools. The problem with both issues is that they are not discusses enough. If a teacher can hang an American flag others can hang an LGBTQ or BLM flag. These flags demonstrates acceptance & unity, something this country needs and very much lacks.“

“I think that we shouldn’t be aloud to hang those types of things in a classroom. I think this only because this would cause other teachers to hang up flags that they support such as Blue Lives Matter and or the confederate flag. Although BLM and the Pride Flag should be normalized and aren’t bad, I wouldn’t be comfortable seeing a confederate flag in the classroom, and it wouldn’t be fair for some people to voice their opinion and other people don’t.”

“I think teachers should be allowed to put up/hang up what they want in their classroom as long as it isn’t offensive. It could also depend on if the teacher shares the classroom.”

“I think teachers should put a Black live Matter sticker on their desk. This shows that teachers support Black live Matter.”

“I think that it is okay for teachers to put up logos or flags regarding the BLM and LGBTQ movement. Teachers who participate are using their voice to demonstrate their classroom’s safe-space. However, students or staff members who oppose the logos or flags may became angry and biast about the teacher. The teacher will simply create conflict and could possibly divide students.”

“I am a big advocate for people having their own thoughts (free speech) and opinions. I think teachers should be allowed to have BIL stickers or an LGBTQ Flag if that’s what they believe in. But I don’t think they should shove their views down the student’s throats. Nowadays the country is very divided because of peoples political views. I think if we encourage conversations instead of a divide, we could all learn something new or even change people’s minds.”

“Personally, I agree with the 2 paragraphs. I believe having this kind of things around or in a class will help the students feel welcomed or safe in class. Students will feel less scared to be who they are or won’t feel judged.”

“In my opinion, I think that students should put a stiker on their desk to let students know they are opposite racism or hang a pride flag pride to let LGBTQ students know the classroom is a safe place. I think this is a good idea because sometimes students don’t feel comfortable and this can help them on getting more involved on class and more secure on themselves. On this times I think is a world where now we can have the freedom on being ourselves.”

“I don’t think is bad but also I don’t thing is a good idea. Everyone has the right to be whatever they want to be but I don’t think they should be spreading ideas to students and I think this can be a way that students can start to think about those ideas.”

“I feel like teachers should be allowed to express the way they feel just as much as we do. On our campus there are a lot of departments that let you express yourself. There might be a lot of students and teachers who may disagree with this situation, but it is a current problem in the world.”