• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Family pull their son out of school after he's told to remove American flags from his truck

Home> News> US News

Published 19:34 22 Aug 2023 GMT+1

Family pull their son out of school after he's told to remove American flags from his truck

The Virginia high school told the student to remove the American flags mounted on his truck.

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

A Virginia family have pulled their son out of high school after he was told to remove American flags he'd mounted on his truck.

Student Christopher Hartless - who attended Staunton River High School - claims he is simply exercising his First Amendment right to fly the American flag on his vehicle.

However, the school argued that 'it was a distraction' to have the large flags mounted on his car.

He told ABC affiliate WSET-TV: "I don't understand how it's a distraction if they have one on the flagpole that every other student can see."

Adding: "My family fought for America and I feel like I should be able to represent the flag that they fought for."

Advert

Step-mom Christina Kingery also struggled to understand why the school was okay to wave a large flag over the school but her stepson was unable to have them on his truck.

"If this is what he is believing in, me and his dad are both going to stand behind him all the way to the end of it." she said.

"If they're willing to change and let kids want to fly the American flag, then I'll put him back in Staunton River... possibly put him back in Staunton River, but if they don't, then I'm going to continue to let him fly his flags."

Kingery also claims that he had his parking pass revoked, and because she doesn't want him to take the bus, they have decided to homeschool him.

Advert

"I think that every student doesn't matter what you believe in, what flag you fly, as long as it's not harmful and it doesn't disgrace our country, you have the right to fly it." she added.

Christopher Hartless was told his American flags were 'distracting'.
WSET-TV/ABC

Staunton River High School provided a statement to the outlet, which read: "Flag clarification: Last week, we conducted a standard review of the Student Code of Conduct.

"Unfortunately, there has been some incorrect information posted on several social media websites, so I would like to provide clarification about the American flag on student attire, safety provisions in our student parking contract, and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Advert

"The BCPS Code of Student Conduct prohibits 'Attire that has language or images that are offensive, profane, vulgar, discriminatory, or racially/culturally divisive. This would include confederate flags, swastikas, KKK references, or any other images that might reasonably be considered hurtful or intimidating to others'.

"It does not include wearing clothing with American flag logos or prints on attire."

Hartless' stepmother has stood by his decision to keep the flags on his truck.
WSET-TV/ABC

It continued: "This attire is allowed. Regarding flags on cars, the student parking contract, which has been used by all 3 of our high schools for many years, states, 'Large flags or banners are not allowed to be flown or displayed on vehicles due to their distractive nature'.

Advert

"School Board Policy IEA: Promotion of Patriotism states, 'the current American flag shall be displayed on the grounds of every school,' and the Pledge of Allegiance 'shall be recited daily, each morning, in every classroom' in accordance with state law.

"Please be assured that we proudly fly the American flag throughout the school, and the Pledge of Allegiance is recited every morning.

"Unfortunately, some of the speakers in our intercom system, which was upgraded over the summer, were not functioning properly on the first day of school. This was immediately reported and has been corrected."

UNILAD has contacted Staunton River High School for additional comment.

Featured Image Credit: WSET

Topics: US News, School

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish has an MA in Multimedia Journalism and is passionate about delivering sarcastic/mildly amusing content. After studying business at undergrad, Anish realised that he’d much prefer getting paid to rant about a topic, rather than to find a solution to it. Apart from that, he loves the ‘Four F’s’, as he calls it - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
  • 10 hours ago

    Chipotle customer finds receipt from 10 years ago and the comparison is making people want to cry

    Chipotle customers are understandably upset

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    100-year-old identical twins reveal secret to long life after celebrating milestone

    Bernice Frank and Gloria Lipman shared their wisdom for reaching 100-years-old

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Forensic psychiatrist gives chilling theory behind Bryan Kohberger’s motive after he confessed to Idaho murders

    Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to murder earlier this week

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Body found in search for man who vanished on vacation as police release chilling details

    Brian Tarrence was with his wife in Turks and Caicos before being reported missing days later

    News
  • Victims of Wisconsin school shooting identified while man is detained in connection to the murder
  • Parents of 11-year-old boy who took his own life following immense 'bullying by his teacher' sues school board
  • Cheerleaders left with burns to their hands after coach punished them for ‘disrespectful’ performance
  • Family of American Airlines pilot reveals heartbreaking final conversation before the plane crashed