The removal of flags from classrooms in public schools is a relatively new idea in this country in the past two years.

 In the rooms of De Pere High School, many types of flags have been freely displayed for years. 

However, Wisconsin schools in cities like Milwaukee and Waukesha have been putting bans on what is allowed to be flown. Because of this, it was no surprise to De Pere residents when the school board proposed a new policy that would require teachers to get flags approved by the district before hanging them in classrooms. 

While the policy is written very generally addressing many flags, it is very clear that the only flag being discussed at these board meetings is the pride flag. Individuals concerned about the pride flag being shown have made points about the flag attempting to indoctrinate kids, as if being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is some sort of cult, fed into by the staff at De Pere High School. 

Despite this belief, there are a mere four pride flags being displayed in the DPHS classrooms, one of which is displayed by the school’s diversity club advisor, Robert Mohar. 

“I’m not a rebel rouser, I’m not a revolutionary, but I believe people should be accepted for who they are and that’s not going to change,” Mohar said. “You are who you are and you will be accepted in my classroom.” 

The banning of the pride flag from public schools is not going to make school a more welcoming place, it is not going to make any student more comfortable, and it is not going to shelter students from hearing about the LGBTQ+ community. 

Removing a symbol of acceptance only spreads more hatred towards a group of people who already struggle to feel welcome amongst their classmates. 

When has community and acceptance ever been a political issue? When did teachers showing their support for students become indoctrination? No one sees a pride flag and immediately becomes gay. 

“We know they’re not mad about someone having the Venezuelan flag in the cafeteria.” community member Gloria DeGrave said in an interview after they spoke at a school board meeting on the issue.

So far, the only decision that has been made regarding what can be flown is the restrictions on flags being flown outside the school, tabling the discussion about what can be displayed in the building for another meeting. 

The passing of this policy would destroy the community that the De Pere High School student body has worked so hard to create.