MORE FLAG CONTROVERSY. THIS TIME, STUDENTS FEEL THE EFFECTS WHEN SOME FLAGS ARE ALLOWED AND OTHERS AREN'T.
STUDENTS REACT TO THIS HALL DISPLAY AT ROCKWOOD VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
"I feel like they want us to be gay."
"What about us?"
"No one cares about us. Only if you are gay."
“Maybe we should be gay so they care about us.”
These may come across as immature reactions, but, they are coming from 7th graders.
They shared what they and their friends said after seeing the new bulletin board today in the 6th grade hallway at their school: Rockwood Valley middle.
Their quotes were sent to us with parent permission as long as no names were used.
The display shows various rainbow flags.
Rockwood administrators have been consistent about the goal to provide diverse perspectives to students. Parents have pushed back, due to what they call overreach into areas they want to handle, and, due to what they say is inappropriate for younger ages.
Parent reaction so far is mixed: schools should do displays for all groups; meaning, those who support other causes, such as emergency personnel.
OR, don't do any of it and just stick to the American flag.
They are bothered by what they say is inconsistency from Rockwood administrators.
Parents are emailing administrators and waiting for responses.
You might remember when the district ordered the removal of the First Responders flag last March. It had been placed on the fence surrounding the Eureka High School baseball field, by the Baseball Booster Club.
A booster sponsored that flag and chose to honor first responders instead of promoting a local business.
The removal caused a backlash in the community and posts about it on this site attracted thousands of views. Various reasons were shared, including that it was because the American flag was altered, as well as, "It doesn't help the students and sends a 'negative' message." No administrator admitted to saying that.
Superintendent Dr. Ricker only said the removal was ordered because proper procedure wasn't followed.
Parents said no such procedure had been followed before, when hanging flags on the baseball field fence.
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The flag, far left, before it was removed in March.
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