Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Posters of a woman wearing a hijab with the American flag on it were taken down from the walls of a Carroll County high school after teachers complained they were anti-Trump.
Some students from Westminster High School believe the posters, which read “We the people are greater than fear,” promote diversity and inclusion and are are speaking out against the school system’s decision to remove them.
“It is disheartening that anyone could think that attempts by teachers to make all students feel included in their school community would be anything but positive, but today, I am encouraged and inspired,” alumna Sarah Wack wrote on her Facebook page on Feb. 19.
“The message of diversity is something that we all embrace. It was the political ties that these posters had that caused the divisiveness,” said Assistant Superintendent Steven Johnson. The teachers were asked to take the posters down because they are expected to remain as politically neutral as possible.
Wack organized a Go Fund Me campaign that has raised more than $5,000 to print t-shirts with the image that will be given out to students interested in wearing them on March 1. Since they have raised so much money, Wack wrote on the page they will be giving out shirts to other students in the county so they can hold sister demonstrations.
Johnson said students have more first amendment rights in schools than employees, so students are free to wear the t-shirts. He didn’t know of any teachers planning to wear them but said it wouldn’t surprise him if they did.
“Certainly this is a teachable moment for students,” Johnson said.
Superintendent Stephen Guthrie, at today’s Board of Education meeting, says he’s looking to put together guidelines for the future display of potentially political material.
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