Dear Editor, As a Live Oak staff member, alumni and parent of
two Live Oak students, I feel compelled to give my opinion of the
May 5 events. While I feel the boys were insensitive in wearing
American flag clothing on Cinco de Mayo, it was their First
Amendment right to do so
Live Oak is an excellent school and doesn’t deserve the reputation it has
Dear Editor,
As a Live Oak staff member, alumni and parent of two Live Oak students, I feel compelled to give my opinion of the May 5 events.
While I feel the boys were insensitive in wearing American flag clothing on Cinco de Mayo, it was their First Amendment right to do so. Did we not fly the American flag in front of the school that day? Our students should be allowed to wear whatever they want, within the dress code, on any day they chose, especially our nation’s colors. All students should have the privilege to express pride in their heritage on any day. Our young people should be encouraged, not discouraged to exercise their freedom to protest and stand up for what they believe in.
Perfect example, about a month ago the Gay Straight Alliance held a day of silence to bring awareness to the discrimination of gay and lesbians and bullying of others. What if the school had said to them, “Speak or go home”? The media should, and would have stood up for those kids.
Yesterday, I received a phone message from Principal Nick Boden apologizing for the disruption and for his rush to judgment. Years of faithful service should not be tarnished by one bad decision. Mr. Boden has been an excellent boss and an advocate for learning for my two Live Oak students.
My appreciation goes out to Superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith and his professional, respectful handling of this situation. While I welcome the attention this incident has brought to free speech, I mourn the reputation that we now have. Live Oak is an excellent school, if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t work or send my kids there. Lastly, let us remember:
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Cathy Cano Stockam, Instructional Aide
Decisions by LOHS administrators need to be discussed
Dear Editor,
The qualifications of the principal and vice principal at Live Oak High School must be reviewed by the superintendent of schools, the school board as well as every concerned citizen. The misguided action Wednesday April 5 by the Live Oak High School principal and vice principal; when five students wearing shirts depicting our American flag were asked to leave campus or not display the flag symbols is reprehensible, un-American and disrespectful of the student’s constitutional rights.
Allowing some students on the same day to wear clothing depicting a foreign government’s flag while denying other students the right to wear clothing with the American flag must be examined in a public forum. We do not need people of this mentality in positions of authority in our public school system. Appropriate public investigation and disclosure of the consequences of the matter is required and demanded.
This incident cannot be swept under the carpet.
David Wendt, Morgan Hill
Was it really necessary to show American Pride on Cinco de Mayo?
Dear Editor,
To me these boys are no heroes, for a hero’s job is to help others. This has caused only toil and brought bad publicity on not just our school, but our town as well. They are not the enemy as well, for simple actions can be misinterpreted. It’s the media’s fault for making this larger than needed.
As a fellow student of Live Oak High, I have recently been exposed to something, that frankly, I dislike. As everyone in the U.S.A probably knows by now, some students at my high school left when given the choice to either turn their flag shirts inside out or leave. So far, this has gotten mostly positive recognition. However, I beg that you ask yourselves, how much of the real story you actually know. Unless you have spoken with a direct, nonbiased source, you really don’t know the story.
It was May 5, Cinco de Mayo, and the school seemed happily festive. Most races were happily dawning the colors of the Mexican flag. Only a few, that day, chose to wear the American colors, though great for showing our rich patriotism, this was inappropriate for this day. Anyone choosing to wear the American flag on a Mexican holiday is pretty much looking for trouble and are disrespecting the Mexican population.
Though it is true that not many people in Mexico choose to celebrate this holiday, it is still a holiday that is not American. A teacher once told me that the great thing about schools with a large body of students, is the mingling of races. To prevent inevitable trouble, the school staff decided to interfere, asking kids to turn there shirts inside out. A trustworthy eyewitness told me that it was not so much the fact they were wearing the flag, but the way they were displaying it, which could be considered offensive. A few of the teens understood and wisely did as told. The rest of the boys, however, were asked to leave, which is understandable since this is the normal consequence for defiance at our school. The next day, the inevitable trouble reared its ugly head, along with the exaggerating media.
Understand most people don’t wear American flags, and when they do they are typically tolerated. It was this one simple day that they could put away the flag.
Jesse Benefiel, Morgan Hill
