A teacher in California was removed from her job for disrespecting the U.S. flag and promoting her own beliefs in the classroom.
Kristin Pitzen, who taught at a school in the Newport Mesa School District in Orange County, posted a video on TikTok where she joked about taking down the American flag from her classroom because it made her feel “uncomfortable.”
In the video, she laughed and said, “I packed it away and I don’t know where, and I haven’t found it yet.” She also told her students to pledge allegiance to the pride flag instead, which upset many parents who felt she was teaching children to disrespect the American flag.
Many people are angry about what Kristin Pitzen did, and this has led to her being removed from her position at the school.
Kristin Pitzen also explained what she tells her class to do during the Pledge of Allegiance, which is a way of showing loyalty to the country. She said she tells her students: “Stand if you feel like it, don’t stand if you feel like it, say the words if you want, you don’t have to say the words.”
She mentioned that her class decided to stand but not say the words, and then laughed about the fact that her classroom didn’t have an American flag.
She then shared a story about a student who asked what to look at while reciting the Pledge since there was no American flag in the room. Holding back laughter, she said she told the student, “We do have a flag in the class that you can pledge your allegiance to,” and the student looked around and said, “Oh, that one?” The camera then showed the pride flag hanging on the wall.
This incident wasn’t the only time she promoted her personal beliefs to her students.
In another video that has since been deleted, Kristin Pitzen showed her classroom decorated with various flags for pride month.
In the video, she said, “I pledge allegiance to the queers.” She also added, “I love you all very much – for the people who are out, who aren’t out. You’re appreciated. You’re loved. You’re enough. I support you. I got you.”
However, the community and the school board were not happy with her promoting her personal beliefs to the students.
The video quickly gained attention and caused backlash from people who felt that Pitzen’s actions were inappropriate and disrespectful to the American flag.
In response to Kristin Pitzen’s actions, several parents filled the school’s lawn with American flags. One mother explained, “We heard the school needed more flags, so we decided to help out and show our patriotism.”
Michele Vaughn, whose son is in the military, said, “I’d like to explain to her the importance of respecting the flag.”
Many people online were also upset with Pitzen’s actions. One person commented that the flag is a symbol of the freedom she enjoys today, saying, “Teach them it’s for the people who gave you the freedom and happiness you have now.” Another said, “You stand for the people who fought to keep freedom, and you don’t understand how good we have it. To insult the flag is to insult our country.” A third added, “Maybe she’d like to live in Afghanistan.”
Since posting the video in 2021, Pitzen has deleted all her social media accounts and is no longer teaching. The investigation is still ongoing.
This incident has sparked a debate about freedom of expression, respect for national symbols, and the role of teachers in promoting inclusivity and diversity in schools. It’s unclear what further actions the school district might take.
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