Texas School District Will Permit Students to Kneel During Anthem
While some high schools and colleges across the U.S. are beginning to ban kneeling during the national anthem following the NFL protests from last weekend, the Frisco School District in Texas is tacitly encouraging students to protest (arguably even inviting them to do so).
In an email directive, Frisco Independent School District coaches have been told not to stop any students from kneeling. If students choose to kneel before the game, “they may do so without repercussion,” states a copy of the note provided to CR by a member of the Frisco ISD community.
While some high schools and colleges across the U.S. are beginning to ban kneeling during the national anthem following the NFL protests from last weekend, the Frisco School District in Texas is tacitly encouraging students to protest (arguably even inviting them to do so).
In an email directive, Frisco Independent School District coaches have been told not to stop any students from kneeling. If students choose to kneel before the game, “they may do so without repercussion,” states a copy of the note provided to CR by a member of the Frisco ISD community.
Frisco ISD says students choosing to kneel during anthem may do so without repercussion: pic.twitter.com/ZH421k1MLf
— WFAA-TV (@wfaachannel8) September 28, 2017
The point of this letter is ostensibly to provide “guidance” to school coaches, to help navigate around potential trouble. Its defenders will claim the district is in no way encouraging students to protest the national anthem.
But what is the purpose of sending this directive where there was no indication students were planning a protest? In sending this letter (which countless coaches have undoubtedly shared with their teams), the school preemptively declared there will be no consequences for a protest that wasn’t happening. By doing this, the school is actually inviting such a protest.
It’s like saying, “By the way, kids, if you want to protest during the anthem, you won’t be punished.” “We aren’t protesting.” “OK, but if you do, we won’t punish you.”
Don’t be surprised if Frisco ISD athletes start kneeling during the national anthem now that the school essentially gave them the all-clear. (For more from the author of “Texas School District Will Permit Students to Kneel During Anthem” please click HERE)
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