The San Benito High School restriction on flags is not only fair
but consistent with the learning environment of the school.
As a senior at SBHS, I find that banning any and all flags
protects against the threat of physical violence and verbal
confrontation during lunch, break and class. If a student decides
to wear a flag in support of their nationality, it creates tension
with other students that cannot be ignored.
Editor,
The San Benito High School restriction on flags is not only fair but consistent with the learning environment of the school.
As a senior at SBHS, I find that banning any and all flags protects against the threat of physical violence and verbal confrontation during lunch, break and class. If a student decides to wear a flag in support of their nationality, it creates tension with other students that cannot be ignored.
Just think: if one student decides to wear a Mexican flag on Mexican Independence Day, another student may find that it is equally important to model an American flag in protest of this celebration occurring on U.S. soil. This is not a fabricated scenario either – I’ve seen dozens of students reprimanded for this exact behavior, where their own “patriotism” clashed with that of other students. Hostility quickly breaks out and the school must then be held accountable for not preventing the incident beforehand.
Also, the school dress code this year has been explicit, with little room for a student’s own interpretation. Shirt bottoms must touch the top of pants without alterations, and no pair of pants is to be worn in a “sagging manner.” Violations of the new, stricter dress code result in immediate correction and consequence.
Besides, whose fault is it really for dress code disobedience, the school administration or the parents that allow their children to wear such styles?
Perhaps the community would like to ignore the blatant racism that exists throughout the county, but concealing the obvious detestation one group of students holds for another is more difficult. Rather than pointing fingers and faulting the school administration for lack of cultural education and so-called imprudent dress codes, the community itself should first look at where these problems are stemming from before appointing the blame.
Katie Corotto, Hollister
