In a shocking incident at Newport Mesa School District in Orange County, California, a teacher named Kristin Pitzen faced backlash for disrespecting the American flag and promoting her own social agenda among her students. The incident came to light when Pitzen posted a now-deleted video on TikTok where she made a mockery of the U.S. flag and encouraged her students to pledge allegiance to the pride flag instead. This sparked anger among many parents who felt that teaching children to disrespect the American flag was unacceptable.
According to the video, Pitzen claimed that the American flag made her uncomfortable, so she removed it from her classroom. While giggling, she mentioned that she had packed it away and hadn’t been able to find it yet. When the Pledge of Allegiance was recited in the mornings, she allowed her students to choose whether to stand or not and whether to say the words or not. She found it amusing that her class stood but didn’t say the words since there was no American flag in the room. She even suggested they pledge allegiance to a pride flag hanging on the wall instead.
This wasn’t the only instance of Pitzen pushing her own agenda on her students. In another video, she showed her decorated classroom for pride month, pledging allegiance to the queers and expressing her support for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation.
These actions didn’t sit well with the community, the school board, or the online population. Many felt that Pitzen’s behavior was inappropriate and highly disrespectful to the American flag, which symbolizes freedom and the sacrifices made for it. Some parents even took it upon themselves to show their patriotism by placing flags on the school’s lawn.
The incident sparked a wider debate about freedom of expression, respect for national symbols, and the role of educators in promoting inclusivity and diversity in schools. While Pitzen is no longer in the classroom and an investigation is ongoing, the consequences of her actions are yet to be determined by the school district.
As the controversy continues, it is important to reflect on the implications of such incidents in our education system. Let us know your thoughts on this incident and share this story to encourage a meaningful conversation around it.
Read more:
- City orders restaurant to remove flags of ‘fallen heroes’ – owner’s reply is hailed by thousands
- Family pulls teen out of school after administrators tell him to remove American flags from truck
