It was a laughable matter according to Kristin Pitzen, who joked in a TikTok clip that she ripped the stars and stripes from her classroom walls because it made her feel “uncomfortable.”

After, she urged her students to pledge their allegiance to the pride flag, sparking backlash from many parents who were angry she was teaching children to “disrespect” the American flag. Keep reading to learn more about this teacher and why people are furious.

Kristin Pitzen, a teacher at Newport Mesa School District in Orange County, posted a now deleted video on TikTok explaining that she removed the American flag from her classroom “because it made me uncomfortable.”

“I packed it away and I don’t know where, and I haven’t found it yet,” she whispered into the camera while giggling.

She then said that when the Pledge of Allegiance – a sign of loyalty to the country – is read in the mornings, she instructs her class to: “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 with unrestrained laughter.

After, she describes a situation when one of her students asked what he should look at while reciting the patriotic oath since there is no American flag in the classroom.

Attempting to hold back laughter, she exclaimed: “In the meantime, I tell this kid, ‘We do have a flag in the class that you can pledge your allegiance to.’ And he like, looks around and goes, ‘Oh, that one?’”

The camera then shifts to the wall where the pride flag is hanging.

Pushing pride

This wasn’t the only time she pushed her agenda on her pupils.

In another now-deleted video, Pitzen showed her decorated classroom for pride month with various flags.

“I pledge allegiance to the queers,” she said in the video.

She added: “I love you all very much – for the people who are out, who aren’t out. 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 appreciate or love the teacher indoctrinating the pupils with her beliefs.

The video quickly gained attention and prompted backlash from people who felt that Pitzen’s actions were inappropriate and disrespectful to the American flag.

In response, several parents plugged the school’s lawn with flags, with one mother saying: “We just heard the school was short some flags, so we decided we’d help them out to show our patriotism.”

Michele Vaughn, whose son is in the military, continued: “I’d like to share with her, if she doesn’t know the importance of respecting the flag.”

Meanwhile, the online population was also enraged over Pitzen’s actions.

One netizen reminded Pitzen the flag is a living piece of history that symbolizes the freedom she enjoys today: “I don’t think you really you get it, teach them it’s for the people who gave you the freedom and happiness you have now.”

A second shared: “You stand for the people who fought to keep freedom and you don’t understand how good we have it, and to insult the flag which stands for our country?”

“Maybe she’d like to live in Afghanistan,” added a third.

Since the clip was posted in 2021, Pitzen – who has since deleted all her social media accounts – “is no longer in the classroom” and the investigation is ongoing.

The incident ignited the debate over issues such as freedom of expression, respect for national symbols, and the role of educators in promoting inclusivity and diversity in schools. It remains to be seen what further actions, if any, will be taken by the school district in response to the situation.

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