Confederate flag controversy comes to VSHS; student sent home Wednesday

The Confederate flag controversy that has made news in other parts of the U.S. in recent months has come to Vinton.

Two Vinton-Shellsburg High School students say they were told to remove the Confederate flag from their pickup trucks in the school parking lot on Wednesday, because other students said it made them uncomfortable.

After a discussion in class yesterday, the two agreed to put both a U.S. and Confederate flag on their pickups before driving to school today.

“Everyone's talking about it, and that's what I want,” said one of the two, whose pickup displayed both flags. “I want to show everyone that the flag isn't what they think it is.”

VSHS Principal Matt Kingsbury met with the two male students, and asked them to remove the Confederate flags from their vehicles while they are parked on school property. One student, after a discussion with the principal and his father, did so. The other chose to leave his flag displayed, and was sent home for the day.

School administrators are not releasing the names of the two students.

“We have a high school class that is studying the issue of the confederate flag and has been doing some surveying of people’s opinions,” explains Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock. “It has brought up different sides of the issue. Mr. Kingsbury has been working to balance the need to have a safe and orderly environment with students expressing their opinions.”

Hainstock said that due to respecting privacy of students, the school is not sharing specific student information.

“I am confident Mr. Kingsbury is working well with both students and families as we provide a positive learning environment,” says the superintendent.

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MB September 25, 2015, 12:06 am Clearly this student is mimicking someone else. A parent perhaps. He really has no idea that his perception of what this flag means is lacking in understanding of the terrible meanings and implications this flag holds for a continued down-trodden minority. It neither recognizes nor appreciates the pain and anger it causes to an under-served and stigmatized portion of our population. It has no place in current public displays and like the Nazi flag in Germany should be banned from being shown at all.

TB September 25, 2015, 7:49 am Students were uncomfortable? Welcome to the real world. I\'m uncomfortable that public (school) officials do not support the Constitution. Shouldn\'t they be removed?

TF September 25, 2015, 9:54 am The Confederate flag was created to represent a group of people who despised the Union States so much that they didn\'t want to be a part of it anymore. If anyone wants to make a statement regarding their freedom, I\'d suggest flying the flag that stands for the nation that gave it to them.

TH September 25, 2015, 11:28 am One student wanted to \"show everyone that the flag doesn\'t stand for what they think it does\" as if he is from the south and has some sort of legacy to connect to the flag. Anyone this far north defending the confederate flag is just trying something to get upset about.

DS September 25, 2015, 4:46 pm Who get\'s to decide which flag means what? What is missing from this story is what does the flag mean to these two young men. I know they wanted to prompt discussion on the meaning of the flag but could this flag mean \'States Rights\' to them like it does to so many others? Should we label them haters and racist because of how it makes others feel or should we form an opinion of these young men\'s character based on their intent?

News : Confederate flag controversy comes to VSHS; student sent home Wednesday

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