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T-Shirts stir tensions in Real Estate at Flat Rock.
Moderator's privilege: I think the wearing of the Confederate battle flag is wrong and shouldn't be allowed in a school. It's disruptive and it's generally meant to stick it in someone's eye. I know the arguments about 'heritage' and 'cultural pride'. I also was raised for a time in Virginia, and I know about some of the cultures. When you wear a Confederate battle flag in a mixed-race environment, you can count on some black citizens being upset -- they see the flag as one of oppression and supportive of slavery. I understand why.

Schools are places for education. Anything -- anything -- that disrupts education shouldn't be permitted. The Confederate battle flag is one of those things. School is difficult enough these days, we don't need to make it more difficult.

And before anyone sounds off, yes, I had family on both sides in the Civil War.
The banning of the Confederate flag on clothing at Flat Rock Middle School has opened a racial chasm at the school and is setting the stage for perhaps a bitter battle over upcoming new school boundary lines.

On Oct. 4, a group of students at the north Fayette middle school wore clothing from Dixie Outfitters depicting the Confederate flag. According to a letter sent to parents by Principal Oatha Mann, the clothing “caused a disruption of the learning environment.”

“Due to this incident, we are not allowing the wearing of clothing that depicts the Confederate flag. The decision was not made lightly and is a response to the situation that disrupted the learning process. Any clothing that incites disruption will also be addressed as necessary,” Mann wrote.

The Citizen’s Web site has been abuzz with posters commenting on the issue, with many of them complaining about their perceptions that the school administration treats black students with slogan T-shirts more leniently than white students.

School spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said school officials were not taking calls about the incident, and said tensions have cooled down this week. She said the incident was not widespread, and only a few students were involved. She dismissed a report from several posters who said that armed members of the SWAT unit from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department patrolled the school’s hallways in the aftermath of the flap.

Posted by: Besoeker 2006-10-14
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=168622