A teacher was taken out of her job at a school in California for making fun of the U.S. flag and promoting her own social views.
Kristin Pitzen thought it was funny, as she joked in a TikTok video that she took down the stars and stripes from her classroom walls because it made her feel “uncomfortable.”
Then, she encouraged her students to pledge allegiance to the pride flag, which upset many parents who were mad that she was teaching kids to “disrespect” the American flag. Keep reading to find out more about this teacher and why people are so angry.
Kristin Pitzen, a teacher in the Newport Mesa School District in Orange County, shared a now-deleted TikTok video where she said she took down the American flag from her classroom “because it made me uncomfortable.”
“I packed it away and I don’t know where it is, and I haven’t found it yet,” she said softly to the camera while laughing.
She then mentioned that when the Pledge of Allegiance – which shows loyalty to the country – is recited in the mornings, she tells her class: “Stand if you want, don’t stand if you don’t want to, say the words if you feel like it, but you don’t have to say them.”
“So, my class chose to stand but not say the words. That’s totally okay. The only problem is that my classroom doesn’t have a flag,” she said, laughing a lot.
Later, she talks about a time when one of her students asked what he should look at while saying the patriotic pledge since there was no American flag in the room.
Trying not to laugh, she said: “Meanwhile, I tell this kid, ‘We do have a flag in the class that you can pledge your allegiance to.’ And he looks around and says, ‘Oh, that one?’”
The camera then moves to the wall where the pride flag is displayed.
Pushing pride
This wasn’t the only time she pushed her agenda on her pupils.
In a now-deleted video, Pitzen showcased her decorated classroom for pride month, featuring different flags.
“I pledge allegiance to the queers,” she stated in the video.
She continued: “I love you all so much – whether you’re out or not. You’re valued. You’re loved. You’re enough. I support you. I’m here for you.”
A symbol of freedom
However, the community and school board did not appreciate or support the teacher for sharing her beliefs with the students.
The video quickly attracted attention and led to criticism from those who thought Pitzen’s actions were inappropriate and disrespectful to the American flag.
In response, a bunch of parents filled the school’s lawn with flags. One mom said, “We just heard the school was missing some flags, so we thought we’d help out to show our love for our country.”
Michele Vaughn, whose son serves in the military, added: “I’d like to tell her, if she doesn’t know, how important it is to respect the flag.”
At the same time, people online were also really upset about what Pitzen did.
One person reminded Pitzen that the flag is a living piece of history that represents the freedom she has today: “I don’t think you really understand, teach them it’s for the people who fought for the freedom and happiness you enjoy now.”
Another person said: “You stand for the people who fought to protect our freedom, and you don’t realize how lucky we are, and to disrespect the flag that represents our country?”
“Maybe she’d like to live in Afghanistan,” added a third.
@deletedvideos09 Teacher mocks the American Flag and suggests to students they can say the Pledge of Allegiance to the pride flag
♬ original sound – Deletedvideos09
Since the video was shared in 2021, Pitzen – who has now removed all her social media accounts – “is no longer teaching” and the investigation is still happening.
The event sparked a discussion about topics like freedom of speech, honoring national symbols, and how teachers should encourage inclusivity and diversity in schools. It is still unclear what actions, if any, the school district will take regarding this matter.
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