Arizona school district considers banning ‘divisive’ flags

Arizona’s largest school district is considering a policy to ban certain flags on school grounds that display “divisive” messages.

“The American Flag should be sufficient,” Mesa Public Schools board member Rachel Walden, who proposed the policy, said during the last board meeting.

The policy would prevent students and staff from displaying flags or merchandise that portray “political, social and ideological messaging.”

Approved flags include:  

• The current Arizona flag; 

• Flags or banners that denote a recognition or achievement and are approved by the Superintendent including but not limited to A+ schools and Blue Ribbon Schools;  

• Sport tournament banners and sporting banners recognizing the school teams; 

• Banners from colleges or Universities or professional sports teams;  

• Such flags as used as part of a temporary unit of study within the approved curriculum; 

• Flags representing other nations may be displayed for purposes of history and world history approved curriculum provided that no such flags may be as large or as prominent as the current American flag; 

• The Betsy Ross flag. 

Displaying flags representing LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter and other political signs would be against the policy, which also bans students from displaying stickers, posters, banners, pennants and wearing clothes with political or ideological messages.  

Critics are concerned about whether the policy infringes on freedom of speech, including board member Kiana Sears, who is against the measure. 

“It does restrict student’s freedom of speech,” Sears said, according to 12 News.  

The board voted to discuss the policy in a private executive session with the district’s attorney present. That meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday.