A teacher in California lost her job after she made fun of the U.S. flag and promoted her own beliefs in class. Kristin Pitzen thought it was funny when she shared a TikTok video saying she took down the American flag from her classroom because it made her feel “uncomfortable.”
She even told her students to pledge allegiance to the pride flag instead, which upset many parents who felt she was teaching kids to be disrespectful to the American flag. If you want to know more about this situation and why it made so many people angry, keep reading.
Kristin Pitzen, who worked in the Newport Mesa School District in Orange County, made a video on TikTok that has since been deleted. In it, she explained that she removed the American flag from her classroom because it made her uncomfortable. While giggling, she said, “I packed it away and I don’t know where, and I haven’t found it yet.”
She mentioned that when the Pledge of Allegiance is said in the mornings, she tells her students: “You can stand if you want, or you can sit. You can say the words if you feel like it, but it’s totally okay if you don’t.”
Her class decided to stand but chose not to say the pledge, which she thought was perfectly fine. The funny part? Her classroom doesn’t even have a flag, and she laughed about it.
Then, she shared a story about a student who asked what he should look at while saying the pledge since there was no American flag in sight. Trying not to laugh, she said, “I told him, ‘We do have a flag in the class that you can pledge to.’ He looked around and asked, ‘Oh, that one?’”
The camera then showed the wall where the pride flag was displayed.
Pushing pride
She didn’t just do this once; she often tried to influence her students with her own ideas.
In a video that has since been removed, Pitzen shared a glimpse of her colorful classroom celebrating Pride Month, featuring lots of different flags.
In the video, she declared, “I pledge allegiance to the queers.”
She also expressed, “I care about all of you – whether you’re out or not. You matter. You are loved. You are enough. I’m here for you. I’ve got your back.”
A symbol of freedom
The community and school board were not happy with the teacher who was trying to push her beliefs on the students.
The video spread fast and caused a lot of anger from people who thought Pitzen’s behavior was wrong and disrespectful to the American flag.
Several parents decided to show their support for the school by placing flags on the lawn. One mother explained, “We heard the school needed more flags, so we wanted to help out and show our love for our country.”
Michele Vaughn, whose son serves in the military, expressed her feelings, saying, “I wish I could explain to her how important it is to respect the flag.”
At the same time, many people online were upset about Pitzen’s actions.
One commenter pointed out that the flag represents a significant part of history and the freedom people enjoy today: “I don’t think you understand. Teach them that it stands for those who fought for your freedom and happiness.”
Another person added, “You should honor those who fought for our freedom. It’s hard to believe you don’t see how fortunate we are, and to disrespect the flag that represents our country?”
A third commenter suggested, “Maybe she should try living in Afghanistan.”
Since the video was shared in 2021, Pitzen – who has now removed all her social media accounts – “is not teaching anymore” and the investigation is still happening.
This event sparked discussions about topics like freedom of speech, the importance of national symbols, and how teachers should encourage inclusivity and diversity in schools. It’s unclear what steps, if any, the school district will take next regarding this matter.
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