American Flags Seized from High School Students by School: Display of Old Glory Prohibited
In a shocking display of misplaced priorities, an Oklahoma high school is facing intense backlash after students had their American flags confiscated by school officials and were escorted to the principal’s office. The incident, which has sparked outrage among parents, students, and state officials, is yet another example of how patriotism is being stifled in our nation’s schools.
The controversy erupted at Edmond North High School, where students were told they could not display the American flag on their vehicles—a directive that many saw as an infringement on their First Amendment rights. The situation escalated when at least one student was reportedly punished for handing out small American flags within the school, an act of patriotism that should be celebrated, not censored.
According to a social media post, a video surfaced showing a teacher confiscating flags from a student, who was then led to the principal’s office. When asked what he was being punished for, the student responded, “Handing out American flags.” This incident has only fueled concerns that the school is prioritizing a “woke” agenda over the values that have long defined our nation.
Earlier in the week, a wave of student-led protests swept through the school after student Caleb Horst was informed that he could not fly the American flag on the back of his pickup truck. In a show of solidarity, more than 50 cars and trucks circled the high school, proudly displaying the flag. Horst, who has never encountered issues with displaying the flag before, expressed his frustration, stating, “It’s our First Amendment right, so it’s kind of hard for them to infringe upon our rights.”
Parents and community members are understandably alarmed by the school’s actions, with many questioning what could be next on the chopping block. “If it’s the flag today, what is it tomorrow?” asked Lynn McNeely, a concerned parent. “It’s not a protest. It’s not political. It’s not about red. It’s not about blue. It’s about red, white, and blue. So, where do we draw the line?”
The incident quickly caught the attention of State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who did not mince words in his condemnation of the school’s actions. “Patriotism should never be penalized at Oklahoma schools. Ever. Edmond Public Schools has a history of prioritizing woke agendas over our history and our freedoms. We will investigate, and I will act,” Walters vowed.
In a video statement, Walters went further, pledging to revise guidelines that prohibit the display of the American flag in Oklahoma schools. “No school in Oklahoma should tell students they can’t wave an American flag. We’ve had Americans die for that flag. Die for students to have the right to carry the flag, to wave the flag, to be proud of that American flag,” Walters declared. “My department right now is working on guidelines that we will be issuing to districts to ensure that no student is ever targeted for having an American flag, and also that our schools will promote patriotism.”
Footage of the flag confiscation incident was uploaded to X, drawing widespread condemnation. The caption read, “Kids at @EdmondSchools had their flags confiscated by a teacher and were escorted to the principal’s office. This is a couple of days after the superintendent stated they couldn’t fly flags on their vehicles. Truly sickening.”
This episode serves as a disturbing reminder of the ongoing struggle between American values and a growing trend of progressive overreach in our schools. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the fight to protect patriotism in our educational institutions is far from over.
