A teacher was dismissed from her role at a California school for ridiculing the U.S. flag and promoting her personal social agenda.
According to Kristin Pitzen, it was a humorous situation, as she joked in a TikTok video about having taken down the stars and stripes from her classroom walls because they made her feel “uncomfortable.”
Subsequently, she encouraged her students to pledge allegiance to the pride flag, which led to backlash from numerous parents who were upset that she was teaching children to “disrespect” the American flag. Continue reading to find out more about this teacher and the reasons behind the public outrage.
Kristin Pitzen, a teacher in the Newport Mesa School District in Orange County, shared a now-deleted TikTok video where she explained that 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 into the camera while laughing.
She then mentioned that when the Pledge of Allegiance – a symbol of loyalty to the nation – is recited in the mornings, she tells her class: “Stand if you feel like it, don’t stand if you don’t want to, say the words if you wish, but you’re not required to say them.”
“So, my class chose to stand but opted not to say the words. That’s perfectly okay. The only issue is that my room doesn’t have a flag,” she said, bursting into laughter.
Later, she recounts a moment when one of her students inquired about what he should focus on while saying the patriotic oath since there was no American flag in the classroom.
Trying to suppress her laughter, she said: “In that moment, I told this kid, ‘We do have a flag in the class that you can pledge your allegiance to.’ And he looked around and asked, ‘Oh, that one?’”
The camera then pans to the wall where the pride flag is displayed.
Promoting her pride
This wasn’t the first instance where she imposed her agenda on her students.
In a now-removed video, Pitzen showcased her pride month-themed classroom adorned with various flags.
“I pledge allegiance to the queers,” she stated in the video.
She continued: “I love you all so much – to those who are out and those who aren’t. You are valued. You are loved. You are enough. I stand by you. I’m here for you.”
A symbol of freedom
The community and the school board did not share the same appreciation or love for the teacher who was perceived to be instilling her beliefs in the students.
The video quickly attracted attention and sparked criticism from individuals who believed that Pitzen’s behavior was inappropriate and disrespectful towards the American flag.
In response, a number of parents filled the school’s lawn with flags, with one mother stating: “We just heard the school was lacking some flags, so we decided to lend a hand to express our patriotism.”
Michele Vaughn, whose son serves in the military, added: “I’d like to explain to her, if she’s unaware, the significance of honoring the flag.”
At the same time, the online community was also outraged by Pitzen’s actions.
One internet user reminded Pitzen that the flag is a living symbol of history that represents the freedom she enjoys today: “I don’t think you truly understand, teach them it’s for the people who sacrificed for the freedom and happiness you have now.”
Another commented: “You stand for those who fought to preserve freedom, and you don’t realize how fortunate we are, and to disrespect the flag that represents our nation?”
“Perhaps she’d prefer to live in Afghanistan,” remarked a third.
Since the clip was shared in 2021, Pitzen – who has since removed all her social media profiles – “is no longer teaching” and the investigation continues.
The event sparked a discussion on topics like freedom of expression, respect for national symbols, and the responsibility of educators in fostering inclusivity and diversity within schools. It is yet to be determined what additional measures, if any, the school district will implement in light of the situation.
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