Is the response to the raising of the Gadsden flag in line?

Sgt John H. — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:43:13 -0400

May 9, Greg Stonebruner replaced the school’s flag at Central High School in Grand Junction, Colorado with the “Don’t Tread On Me” flag – an expression of freedom and the willingness to fight for it. Stonebruner also attached a note to the flagpole that told the history of the Gadsden flag.

The prank didn’t go over well with Principal Jodie Diers, who was outraged when she saw the Gadsden flag flying. Other students claimed she was angry and yelling to have the flag replaced after seeing what happened.

Diers later pulled Stonebruner out of a scholarship breakfast and told him and his parents the flag was a “slap in the face” to the school and he was “not welcome” anymore at Central High. She also withheld his diploma until after the graduation ceremony.

After receiving his diploma and getting his flag back, Stonebruner had some strong words about the incident and the principal’s claim that flying the Gadsden flag was a ‘slap in the face’ to the school. He said:

The Gadsden flag has almost an identical history to the American flag, and was born from a very patriotic cause, and its suddenly a ‘slap in the face.’ This shows the ignorance and misinformation of the people in power over our children. History like this used to be taught in schools all over the United States, and now not even most adults, let along high school age people know what this flag stands for.

Administrators all over the US are excising [sic] power that they do not have over students and other adults. Students are being taught to obey the baseless authority and to never question anything. Is that the real message we want to be sending our children, who are the future of this country?

Stonebruner hopes his story will go viral so that more people are made aware of this blatant abuse of power from a school administrator who took out her anger on a student because his political views were different than hers.

Do American public schools truly educate students in critical thinking, or do they try to indoctrinate students with their views? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jul 18 at 2014 10:47 AM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:47:14 -0400

Since the Navy flew the The Gadsden Flag for the bicentennial year I strongly support him and his right to think and protest poor education. Critical thinking is espoused in or schools, but it is dead if you are not a far left liberal.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2014 1:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 13:50:50 -0400

Sadly, critical thinking is not taught any more. My wife and I have been struggling to fight this progressive garbage that is being shoved down the throats of our children. Multiple times my boys have stated things mentioned/taught by their teachers which are totally false. The insidiousness of the NEA and this new "standard" of common core is infecting society's young minds. Until the people start standing up and fighting, education in America will continue to decline.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 18 at 2014 5:01 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:01:09 -0400

Yet we have people that support flying the Mexican flag and banning US patriotism at schools on May 5th. What a country we live in.

Response by Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn made Jul 18 at 2014 9:26 PM

Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 21:26:59 -0400

1. Mr. Stonebruner's prank/stunt was politically charged, because the Gadsen Flag has been embraced by the Tea Party. The young man may be correct on the narrow facts of the flag's origin, but ignoring the recent context is irresponsible.

2. The principal's response was inappropriate. He may feel very strongly about the school's (U.S.) flag, as is his right, but as a school administrator and a role model, he should have controlled his reaction to the new graduate's behavior. As an educator and a historian, I know that he missed a classic "teachable moment" and instead made himself look like an ass.

3. School is not just about the transmission of information; it's also about socialization too. I have taught every grade level K-12 & undergraduates, and I'm here to say that there are opportunities for good instructors to guide their students both socially and academically at every stage of their educational journey. In this case, the young man / recent HS graduate (I'm inferring from your post) could have been more empathetic, and the principal should have demonstrated the superior maturity that we expect of someone of his age and professional stature.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 22 at 2015 11:19 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 11:19:01 -0400

Change to context of this story and see how it sounds.

Private Stonebruner replaces the Post flag with the Gadsden flag.
Several other privates report that the Base Commander truly and righteously chewed Pvt. Stonebruner's ass into the neither regions.

Folks .. we don't teach those in High School "critical thinking skills" because they are, in general, incapable of that form of thought.

If Mr. Stonebruner had "critical thinking skills" he might have foreseen how a Principle would react to someone mucking with the school flag.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 7:47 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 07:47:41 -0400

The Public School system is out of control and has been for a long time. It's a broken system that throws money at issues and never sticks around to see if solution is found; often it's not. Our schools are inundated with liberal indoctrination and people who push their agenda and political events on the young minds they teach simply because no one is stopping them.

Personally I see nothing wrong with what the student did and his actions are far less harmful than many of the senior pranks being pulled where I live (several students have gained criminal charges recently for doing some very stupid things to celebrate). I think the real slap in the face in the immature and quite frankly ignorant response made by the Principal. Furthermore the fact that this kid was so harshly punished was wrong. Simply put she owes that kid and her community an apology for embarrassing them and then she needs to have enough integrity to resign. If this is how she acts when something doesn't go her way than how she any different than the children she is suppose to supervise? Immature minds cannot lead immature minds.

Sadly enough the abuse this kid has seen is not uncommon nor is it even seen as an issue most of times in our schools. We have accepted that our school systems are broken and embraced the liberal take over of all things without objection. We've set the stage for such events as we are seeing today with the Confederate Flag - a coordinated agenda to scrub the nation of it's history. I too suffered, in college, at the hands of a liberal teacher who couldn't see past her own agenda. It was the only English class that I ever received a failing grade in (or anything less than an "A" for that matter).

What can we do other than encourage people to stand up for themselves? This nation seems to be waiting for someone to take the leadership role and fight back against the direction the nation is crashing in. Who will it be, when will they come, and will we all just allow the nation to fall like Rome hoping such a person will appear (but never does) - all pressing questions on my mind.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 8:31 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 08:31:38 -0400

While I like the Gadsden Flag myself, and the original message it stood for, it has recently become a symbol of the Tea Party, which many see as obnoxious.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jun 26 at 2015 6:42 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 18:42:37 -0400

Massive overreaction for what amounted to a minor prank where nothing got damaged and no one got hurt. Not a fan of the Gadsden Flag with everything it represents these days, but serious failure on the principal's part to take advantage of a teachable moment.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2015 10:54 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 10:54:18 -0400

I almost had to laugh at this. If the student raised the confederate flag or the swastika what wold the comments be?

All flags have meaning to people. Unfortunately they often mean different things to different groups. I believe everyone has a right to fly any flag they choose. But, that right does not extend to changing the flag(s) on anothers flagpole.

Really the student was wrong - plain and simple.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 27 at 2015 11:32 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 11:32:41 -0400

The flag wasn't his to change. civil disobedience bears with it the cost of absorbing the punishment for your illegal but moral (in your mind) action. Here, the offense was light as was the punishment.

I'm a huge fan of the Gadsden Flag, and of critical thought. Neither of these entitles me to lower someone else's banner on property I do not own and raise one of my choosing.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 3:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 15:01:58 -0500

The Gadsden flag is not the flag of this country. Had a student done the same thing and lowered the Stars and Stripes to fly a Confederate or Mexican flag over the school, would the punishment be appropriate?

Either way the student walked away with their diploma and lessen in respect.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2016 9:34 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 21:34:09 -0400

Was the student suspended or was this right before graduation? It makes a difference. If he wasn't done classes give him a few days detention . If he was done classes throw the flag away but let him attend the graduation ceremony. Although this was a stupid prank in the grand scheme of things it was not important enough to warrant him missing his ceremony.