CHARLOTTE, Tenn. – It’s the day of a big football game between in town rivals in Dickson County, but in the school parking lot, the only banner flying has been on the flag pole.
On the first day of school officials decided to do away with flags all together.
"Based on some actions and behaviors of students displaying banners behind a vehicle," Dickson County Director of Student Services Steve Sorrells said.
This school year began after a summer packed full of controversy surrounding the Confederate flag, an issue many students across the Mid-State felt the need to address by flying their own banners, and that prompted officials in Dickson County to act.
"While this was not necessarily an attack on the American flag, there were some other issues we're trying to address," said Sorrells.
Students, however, have felt their patriotism has been compromised.
"If you want to fly a Confederate flag, if you want to fly a rainbow flag, fly a rainbow flag, whatever you want. I just think that's a right, it’s freedom of expression, and I don't think you should be able to take that away from us," high school senior, Arianna Heisler, said.
Officials believed there was a right and wrong way to show patriotism and school pride.
"It's not an unpatriotic act by any means because we have a number of ways in which students do learn how to be patriotic and express American pride," Sorrells said.
At least for now, that won't look like a parade of flags on school property or any school function.
"We do have a responsibility to help our students understand citizenship, proper respect for the flag and what that might look like," said Sorrells.
