The Politics of the Schoolyard Flag
A Civil War veteran argues against a proposed mandate for daily school flag-raising, citing concerns over patriotism and public display.
To the editor: I see a resolution from John F. Miller post informing the legislature that a law should be passed to empower school directors to spend money to purchase United States flags and hoist them over schoolhouses. I am a member of John F. Miller post and am opposed to such an act. First, flags should look new and clean, but a flag on a schoolhouse would soon be a faded rag. Second, the flag should be used only on great and patriotic occasions to maintain its meaning. Third, the small boy needs no teaching of that kind, but rather needs lessons to hold broader and kinder views of other nations. Children are already inclined to be narrow and selfish. If the post wants to teach patriotism, it should instead force editors and politicians who array class against class to wear flags on their breasts. - E. M. Schick
“Should the flag be raised on every house every day it would mean nothing.”
Debates over patriotic displays in public institutions are as common today as they were in 1893. The tension between performative nationalism and substantive civic education continues to animate local school board meetings.
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