The Anne Arundel County school board is considering a controversial policy that could limit the types of flags that can be displayed in public schools.The policy would be similar to the one Carroll County schools enacted last year.Some are concerned about whether the proposed policy could limit flags used by minority groups, such as the pride flag.Parents, students and teachers made their voices heard at Wednesday night’s Board of Education meeting.”Other than the governmental flags — United States flag, Maryland, Anne Arundel County, City of Annapolis for those schools in the city — flags for a bona fide educational purpose would be permitted, and what would qualify under that bona fide educational purpose would be up to the principal,” said AACPS spokesman Bob Mosier.The proposed policy was created at the request of board member Corine Frank who referenced concerned citizens.Katherine Moore is a teacher and said her son is a member of the LGBTQ community.”I’m looking out for their social and emotional wellbeing, and just having that flag on the wall shows them there is a safe place for them, that they matter and they belong,” she said.Moore said the pride flag is an important part of symbolism.”A policy like this could be detrimental to his mental health and wellbeing and to students of the LGBTQ community that don’t have the support of their parents at home,” she said.But some parents, like Kerry Gillespie, said they support the proposed policy.”I personally believe that all Americans, no matter what your background or beliefs are, everybody is represented in the red, white, and blue. I don’t think anyone is taken away from having by having the stars and stripes in their classrooms, that united all children, no matter what their political beliefs are, and it takes the political division out of classrooms that I think has no place in classrooms,” Gillespie said.Two more meetings are planned on the proposed policy. The board is expected to vote on it in July.
The Anne Arundel County school board is considering a controversial policy that could limit the types of flags that can be displayed in public schools.
The policy would be similar to the one Carroll County schools enacted last year.
Some are concerned about whether the proposed policy could limit flags used by minority groups, such as the pride flag.
Parents, students and teachers made their voices heard at Wednesday night’s Board of Education meeting.
“Other than the governmental flags — United States flag, Maryland, Anne Arundel County, City of Annapolis for those schools in the city — flags for a bona fide educational purpose would be permitted, and what would qualify under that bona fide educational purpose would be up to the principal,” said AACPS spokesman Bob Mosier.
The proposed policy was created at the request of board member Corine Frank who referenced concerned citizens.
Katherine Moore is a teacher and said her son is a member of the LGBTQ community.
“I’m looking out for their social and emotional wellbeing, and just having that flag on the wall shows them there is a safe place for them, that they matter and they belong,” she said.
Moore said the pride flag is an important part of symbolism.
“A policy like this could be detrimental to his mental health and wellbeing and to students of the LGBTQ community that don’t have the support of their parents at home,” she said.
But some parents, like Kerry Gillespie, said they support the proposed policy.
“I personally believe that all Americans, no matter what your background or beliefs are, everybody is represented in the red, white, and blue. I don’t think anyone is taken away from having by having the stars and stripes in their classrooms, that united all children, no matter what their political beliefs are, and it takes the political division out of classrooms that I think has no place in classrooms,” Gillespie said.
Two more meetings are planned on the proposed policy. The board is expected to vote on it in July.
