DEARBORN COUNTY, Ind. (WKRC) — A local high schooler was told to remove an American flag from his truck by his school.
School leaders are now apologizing after a social media post went viral. The principal said it was a misunderstanding and that the school reversed its decision in 24 hours.
Cameron Blasek, a student at East Central High School, was pulled into the principal's office over the situation. He said that they asked him to take it down or be threatened with insubordination. Blasek said that it wasn’t a problem all school year until now.
He put up the flag because he said it's a unique way to show his pride for the country and pay respect to those who lost their lives fighting for his freedom. Blasek said the school admin asked him twice to remove it and twice he stood his ground.
"He said, 'You got to take it down.' And I said, 'But there's no written rules or anything about that in the Student Handbook.' I even read off to him [the] student handbook and all the guidelines in there, the word flag isn't even in there, aside from the flag twirling section," Blasek said.
He said the school argued that since there wasn't a written rule, it could enforce one on a case-by-case basis. He even said that the school tried to say that since his truck was on school property, the school had the right to ask him to take it down.
"Well, he's like, 'The school has a right to request that you remove the flag off the back of your vehicle.' I said, 'You're right.' I said, 'The school does have a right to request that, but since it's just a request, a request means that you're not demanding or telling me that I have to. So, I'm going to decline your request,'" Blasek said.
Blasek said he still doesn't know what prompted the request.
Principal Tom Black said no high school staff member or administrators stated or insinuated that the flag of the United States was offensive, nor has there ever been a complaint received about the U.S. flag. But, word still got around.
"People were sending me messages throughout the night and everything of everybody going out and buying flags left and right. I was getting messages. My phone was blowing up," Blasek said.
He said at least two dozen students donned flags. The school apologized adding that students are "allowed" to fly an American flag.
"That was kind of a shocker because I don't see the "confusion" on you telling a student to take an American flag down off the back of their truck," Blasek said.
Blasek is planning on joining the military after high school. He said that he's still deciding on which branch.
Principal Black said they tried to meet with students who displayed the flag to clarify, but weren't able to meet with all of them before the viral post. He also said there's no plan to change the school's current handbook.