One of the key insights garnered from the widely shared story in Colorado, where a 12-year-old was kicked out of class for sporting a Gadsden flag patch on his backpack, is the sheer ignorance displayed by those in positions of authority. Not only do they lack a basic understanding of free speech, but they also lack a fundamental grasp of American history.
How can these individuals educate when they are wrong on such basic facts?
In a recorded lecture, a high-ranking administrator at the Vanguard charter school wrongly stated that the flag has origins related to “slavery and the slave trade.” Consequently, the administrator deemed the small patch to be “disruptive to the classroom environment.”
A simple 10-second Google search reveals the truth: the flag has no connection to slavery whatsoever.
The flag, known for its rattlesnake emblem and the motto “Don’t tread on me,” actually originated during the American Revolution, a topic that the school dedicates an entire year to in its history curriculum.
Remarkably, Jaiden Rodriguez’s teacher sided with the administration in removing him from the classroom. Thus, the teacher supported ignorance instead of advocating for a student who was being victimized by it.
As a fallback, the school then made an issue out of the numerous semi-automatic gun patches on Jaiden’s backpack, resulting in their removal and his subsequent return to class.
Despite the fact that even Democratic Gov. Jared Polis called out the error, Vanguard has yet to provide an explanation for its institutional idiocy.
Chances are, this ignorance is deliberate. Progressives have long propagated a distorted view of American history, demonizing everything from the National Anthem to the flag to the Constitution. To them, the truth is irrelevant.
