Summary: A normal Thursday morning turned into a political explosion when 23 students stood together to fight for their beliefs at Christiansburg High School in southwestern Virginia. The students all surprised the administration staff when they showed up to school wearing clothes that were emblazoned with the Confederate battle flag. According to school officials, this was a violation of the school dress code and the school policy in general. Because of this action, all 23 students were suspended for the day, but the students of Christiansburg High School had more to say about the topic. Students say that they disagreed with the school policy of not being able to wear the Confederate battle flag, and that this rule was a violation to their
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Racial tension had filled the school and due to this, the Confederate Flag was banned during that school year of 2002. “…we value First Amendment rights, but we have to maintain an orderly and safe environment for all students…” (Brenda Drake). Since then, half of all middle and high schools in the county prohibit the showing of the Confederate flag.
Even though only 8 percent of Christiansburg High School's 1,100 students are black and more than 80 percent are white (The Associated Press), the political controversy is still buzzing between both parties both trying to present their side of the same question: Is it a symbol of heritage, or slavery?
The Confederate flag has always been a touchy subject, and different arguments have been presented on whether or not it is a proud part of Southern origin or if it’s just a symbol of how slavery thrived in the past. Many Confederate symbols such as flags and monuments have been removed after decades of being up due to the legislators in South Carolina. It was given an even worse view to it when nine black church members were gunned down at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina by a few white man who were previously featured in photos containing the Confederate
Racial tension had filled the school and due to this, the Confederate Flag was banned during that school year of 2002. “…we value First Amendment rights, but we have to maintain an orderly and safe environment for all students…” (Brenda Drake). Since then, half of all middle and high schools in the county prohibit the showing of the Confederate flag.
Even though only 8 percent of Christiansburg High School's 1,100 students are black and more than 80 percent are white (The Associated Press), the political controversy is still buzzing between both parties both trying to present their side of the same question: Is it a symbol of heritage, or slavery?
The Confederate flag has always been a touchy subject, and different arguments have been presented on whether or not it is a proud part of Southern origin or if it’s just a symbol of how slavery thrived in the past. Many Confederate symbols such as flags and monuments have been removed after decades of being up due to the legislators in South Carolina. It was given an even worse view to it when nine black church members were gunned down at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina by a few white man who were previously featured in photos containing the Confederate