You can’t believe everything you read on social media.
Rumors that an American flag was taken down from a pole at Neshaminy High School in Middletown Township on Thursday morning and then burned were untrue, according to staff, students, and a letter from the building’s principal.
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Ryan Staub, the high school principal, wrote in a letter shared with parents and LevittownNow.com that he was working to “correct any misinformation that is circulating on social media and in our community.”
On Wednesday, there was a small protest at the high school in the morning. It was monitored by staff and migrated to the football stadium “without incident,” Staub said.
On Thursday morning, a different group of students, who were then joined by the students from Wednesday’s protest, walked out and gathered at the football stadium, Staub said.
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According to a student who took part in the protest and Staub’s letter, the empty flag pole used during events at the stadium had an LGBTQ pride flag raised on it before it was lowered and removed by students.
“No one took the American flag & no one burned a flag lol,” a student told LevittownNow.com via social media.
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The student went on to state the protest was to call out inequality for minority groups, like people of color and the LGBTQ community, in the high school and beyond. Students also wanted to shine a light on reported sexual assaults they feel were not properly handled.
“So there is no misunderstanding, the flag pole in the stadium is only used during home games and band events, and the American Flag was NOT currently flying at the time the Rainbow Flag was raised during the student protest,” Staub said.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A high school staff member told LevittownNow.com a flag pole with an American flag that sits directly outside of the entrance to the building and auditorium was untouched by students.
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The principal wrote the high school administration encourages students to make their voices heard. He also said that students walking out of classes will be considered cutting and the “discipline code will be enforced.”
Additionally, rumors of a lockdown at the high school due to the protest Thursday were untrue.
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Staub said students were held in classes around 11 a.m. while an ambulance responded for an unrelated medical incident.
Below is Staub’s full letter to parents:
Good afternoon. I would like to update our school community regarding two Peaceful Student Protests that have happened over the past two days here at Neshaminy High School and to correct any misinformation that is circulating on social media and in our community.
Yesterday, a group of students peacefully protested during 2nd period, monitored by administration. The demonstration moved to the football stadium without incident, where students were able to voice their concerns within their protest.
Today during 2nd and 3rd periods, another protest formulated which appeared to be initiated by a different group of students and was later joined by students from yesterday’s rally. The students peacefully left school and went to the stadium and gathered to have their voices heard. At one point in the stadium, the group of students raised a Rainbow Flag up an empty flag pole. It was raised by students and remained in the air approximately 2-3 minutes prior to being lowered back down by students.
So there is no misunderstanding, the flag pole in the stadium is only used during home games and band events, and the American Flag was NOT currently flying at the time the Rainbow Flag was raised during the student protest.
I will also state that, unlike yesterday, some students did break from the group, were without concern for the purpose at hand and did not participate in the protest once outside.
Although the administrative team at the high school and District level encourages students to voice their concerns to administration, protests – when not organized or handled appropriately – become disruptive to the educational learning environment. Administration is working with various students and organizations to allow our students to have a voice and feel a sense of school community.
As we continue to work with a variety of student groups to address their concerns, we also want to bring normalcy to the school day. Moving forward, we ask that parents and guardians encourage their children to express their opinions through fruitful conversations with administration in a positive and purposeful format. With that said, any student “walking out” of school will be considered cutting class; and class work for that period(s) will not be allowed to be made up for credit and the discipline code will be enforced.
Although our message here is to work with students, we need to do this together and in an organized fashion to be One Neshaminy! So, I ask for your support in encouraging your child(ren) to appropriately use their “voices” moving forward so that we can continue to meet and work together in developing any change process they may desire.
On a separate note, there was a nonrelated medical emergency that occurred at roughly 11:00 am where students were held in class until the ambulance arrived and assisted the student in need.
If have any questions or concerns, as always please contact me at rstaub@neshmainy.org or 215-809-6100.
With Neshaminy Pride,
Ryan P. Staub
Principal
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