Oklahoma schools to promote patriotism after student advised to remove US flag from truck.

Oklahoma State School Superintendent Ryan Walters announced that his district would implement new policies to allow students to express their patriotism, following an incident where an Oklahoma high school student was forced to remove an American flag from his truck by school staff earlier this month.

On "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Saturday, Walters declared that under new state school guidelines, students will not be punished for displaying the flag or showing their patriotism. Instead, they will be encouraged to love their country and better understand its founding.

Walters stated on "Fox & Friends Weekend" that there will be no tolerance for anti-Americanism.

Several days after Edmond North High School senior Caleb Horst was reportedly instructed by school officials to remove the American flag from the pick-up truck he uses to drive to school, the public school superintendent appeared on the channel.

According to Horst, KOCO reported that school staff stated it was school policy to keep flags off campus. Edmond Public Schools clarified that their stance on flag flying had nothing to do with patriotism. Instead, they explained that the practice was for safety reasons and to prevent distractions.

Edmond Public Schools prohibit students from flying or bringing flags on school campuses. This policy has been in place for several years and is communicated to students at the beginning of the school year along with other policies and procedures. The practice aims to prevent disruptions and distractions during the school day and to ensure a safe school environment. Flying flags on vehicles in the parking lot can create safety issues and cause damage to other vehicles.

Edmond Public Schools proudly displays the American flag outside each of our buildings and in our classrooms. We recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning and present the colors and play the national anthem at most of our athletic events. These actions are done in accordance with flag etiquette.

Horst stated that he had been displaying flags from his vehicle for an extended period, believing that the school would not infringe on his right to free expression.

He stated that he had never faced issues with it previously, and as it is protected by the First Amendment, it is challenging for them to encroach upon our rights.

Walters slammed the decision and signaled his department was working to change state school rules to address it.

"No student in Oklahoma should be prevented from waving an American flag. We have had Americans sacrifice their lives to protect the flag and the right of students to display it, wave it, and be proud of it. My department is currently developing guidelines to ensure that no student is discriminated against for having an American flag and that our schools promote patriotism."

The interview with Walters on Planet Chronicle Channel began with the new guidelines implemented by the superintendent's department to prevent such incidents. These guidelines include a requirement for schools to have a clear policy on flag display, for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week, and for schools to submit a report demonstrating compliance with these guidelines.

Walters informed Hegseth that he desires his schools to resist the anti-Americanism promoted by the "Biden administration, teachers' unions, and the radical left."

He declared that our schools will not tolerate it and that we want our students to fly the American flag, indicating a desire for patriotism.

The superintendent stated that his administration has acted promptly to ensure that this incident will not occur again. Every school in the state will safeguard the students' right to display the flag. We will proudly display the flag and promote patriotism in Oklahoma schools.

Walters stated that the state's schools are revising their social studies standards to better comprehend the American founding.

"Our schools have become indoctrination centers promoting hatred for our country. This will not occur in Oklahoma," he declared.

In June, the superintendent issued a memo to state schools, instructing them to include the Bible and Ten Commandments in their curricula for grades 5-10, with a focus on historical context. This directive was in line with the educational standards approved in May 2019.

This report was contributed to by Greg Wehner and Kristine Parks of Planet Chronicle Digital.