A teacher in California was removed from her position for mocking the U.S. flag and promoting her own social agenda.
Kristin Pitzen, a teacher at Newport Mesa School District in Orange County, posted a now-deleted TikTok video where she joked about taking down the American flag from her classroom because it made her feel “uncomfortable.”
In the video, she giggled and whispered that she had packed the flag away and couldn’t find it. Instead, she encouraged her students to pledge allegiance to the pride flag, which sparked outrage among many parents who felt she was teaching children to disrespect the American flag.
She explained that during the Pledge of Allegiance, a sign of loyalty to the country, she tells her class, “Stand if you feel like it, don’t stand if you feel like it, say the words if you want, you don’t have to say the words.”
“So, my class decided to stand but not say the words. Totally fine. Except for the fact that my room does not have a flag,” she said, laughing uncontrollably.
She then recounted an instance when a student asked what to look at while reciting the pledge since there was no American flag in the classroom. Trying to hold back laughter, she said, “In the meantime, I tell this kid, ‘We do have a flag in the class that you can pledge your allegiance to.’ And he looks around and goes, ‘Oh, that one?’” The camera then shifted to the wall where the pride flag was hanging.
Pushing pride
This wasn’t the only instance where she promoted her personal agenda to her students.
In another now-deleted video, Pitzen showcased her classroom decorated with various flags for Pride Month.
“I pledge allegiance to the queers,” she declared in the video.
She added, “I love you all very much – whether you’re out or not. You’re appreciated. You’re loved. You’re enough. I support you. I got you.”
A symbol of freedom
The community and school board did not support the teacher indoctrinating students with her beliefs. The video quickly gained attention and sparked backlash from those who felt Pitzen’s actions were inappropriate and disrespectful to the American flag.
In response, several parents filled the school’s lawn with flags. One mother commented, “We heard the school was short on flags, so we decided to help out and show our patriotism.”
Michele Vaughn, whose son is in the military, added, “I’d like to share with her the importance of respecting the flag.”
Meanwhile, online reactions were also heated. One person reminded Pitzen that the flag is a living piece of history symbolizing the freedom she enjoys today, saying, “Teach them it’s for the people who gave you the freedom and happiness you have now.”
Another person shared, “You stand for the people who fought to keep our freedom. Do you not understand how good we have it, and yet you insult the flag that represents our country?”
A third person added, “Maybe she’d prefer to live in Afghanistan.”
@deletedvideos09Teacher mocks the American Flag and suggests to students they can say the Pledge of Allegiance to the pride flag♬ original sound – Deletedvideos09
Since the clip surfaced in 2021, Pitzen – who has now removed all her social media accounts – “is no longer teaching,” and the investigation continues. This occurrence sparked discussions on matters like freedom of expression, reverence for national symbols, and the responsibilities of educators in fostering inclusivity and diversity within schools. The school district’s subsequent steps, if any, are yet undisclosed.
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