BEDFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA: After administrators of a high school in Virginia demanded that he take down two American flags from his truck, a teenager has dropped out and decided to be homeschooled.
Christopher Hartless said that he would not take the flags down as he was exercising his First Amendment rights to fly the flag by putting them on his car.
Why does Christopher Hartless have two American flags on his truck?
Hartless told Fox 19 in Virginia, "My family fought for America, and I feel like I should be able to represent the flags that they fought for."
His stepmother, Christina Kingery, said that Staunton River High School officials told him the flags on the back of the truck were a distraction.
A school representative reportedly said that the student parking contract expressly prohibits all flags and banners on vehicles for safety reasons.
Hartless told ABC 13 that he refuses to remove the flags and did not understand how they could be perceived as distracting.
He said, "I don't understand how it's distracting if they have one on the flagpole that every other student can see."
Kingery lent him support after he told her about what had happened. She said said, "I told my son if this is what he's believing in, then we are both going to stand behind him all the way."
The school gave him another warning after his initial warning that the flags had to be taken down.
Why is Christopher Hartless choosing homeschooling?
The school revoked Christopher's parking permit for 2023 after he refused once more.
Kingery said that she did not want him to board the bus for an undisclosed reason. The family made the decision to homeschool as a result of the argument.
Kingery said, "If they're willing to change and let kids want to fly the American flag, then I'll put him back in school."
What did Bedford County Public Schools say?
Representatives for Bedford County Public Schools said in a press release that the student parking contract was crystal clear regarding flags.
Flags were banned "due to their potential to distract or obstruct the view of student drivers as they are navigating the school parking, per the Daily Mail.
These rules, according to officials, have been in effect for "more than a decade" and were put in place primarily for "student safety."
Officials from the school board said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the American flag does not go against the student code of conduct.
The statement read, "Attire that has language or images that are offensive, profane, vulgar, discriminatory, or racially/culturally divisive."
The statement continued, "This would include confederate flags, swastikas, KKK references, or any other images that might reasonably be considered hurtful or intimidating to others."
The statement added, "It does not include wearing clothing with American flag logos or prints on attire."
According to district officials, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited every morning, and the American flag is proudly flown throughout the school.
