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Anecdotes from public school districts across the nation serve to fuel a continuing narrative that patriotism is under attack.
When one Massachusetts mother attempted to make the case that her daughter’s school silenced pro-American expression, however, administrators quickly provided what some see as a justified excuse. The controversy started when a Foxborough High School student submitted a photo for publication in the yearbook. Lisa Truax posted the image of her daughter, standing in front of a large American flag, to her Facebook page, along with the caption: “My American Girl.”
My American Girl
Posted by Lisa Truax on Thursday, December 3, 2015
Though Truax’s social media followers complimented the teen’s pose, the school opted against including the photo in its annual yearbook. When the upset mom began complaining about the decision, Principal Diana Myers-Pachla explained why the image was rejected.
“The photo showed the United States flag, hanging on a wall, with the lower portion lying on the floor, and the student standing on the flag,” she stated. “We do not view standing on the U.S. flag as respectful or appropriate.”
The development led Truax to further clarify that the flag is actually a backdrop used in photography, explaining that no one involved meant any “disrespect to FHS, the veterans [or] the American flag.”
While her social media page attracted some support, the opinion of IJReview readers was decidedly mixed.
“Clearly it was an innocent mistake,” one reader thought.
Another concluded that the student is not “as patriotic as she thinks.”