Teen Christopher Hartless leaves his Virginia faculty after he was advised to take away American flags from his truck

A teen in Virginia has chosen to grow to be homeschooled after highschool officers demanded he take away two American flags from his truck. 

Christopher Hartless believes he’s exercising his First Modification proper by flying the flag on his property and mentioned he has no intention of taking down the show. 

‘My household fought for America, and I really feel like I ought to be capable of characterize the flags that they fought for,’ Christopher mentioned in an interview with Fox 19 in Virginia. 

Christina Kingery, Christopher’s stepmom, mentioned officers at Staunton River Excessive College advised him the flags – mounted to the again of the truck – are a distraction. 

In a press release to native media, a college consultant mentioned that the coed parking contract explicitly bans all flags and banners on automobiles for security causes. 

A teen in Virginia has chosen to grow to be homeschooled after highschool officers advised him he needed to take away two American flags from his truck

Christopher Hartless (pictured) believes he’s exercising his First Modification proper by flying the flag on his property and mentioned he has no intention to take down the show

He advised ABC 13 he refuses to take the flags down and he would not comprehend the way it might be perceived as distracting. 

‘I do not perceive the way it’s distracting if they’ve one on the flagpole that each different scholar can see,’ Christopher mentioned.

Kingery mentioned his mother had his again after he advised her in regards to the concern. 

‘I advised my son if that is what he is believing in, then we’re each going to face behind him all the way in which,’ Kingery mentioned. 

After his first warning, the varsity advised him once more the patriotic shows wanted to return down or else. 

Christopher once more refused and the varsity revoked his 2023 parking cross. 

Kingery advised native media that she did not need him driving the bus for unspecified causes. Because of the disagreement, the household determined to show to homeschooling. 

‘In the event that they’re prepared to vary and let youngsters wish to fly the American flag, then I am going to put him again in class,’ Kingery mentioned.

‘I advised my son if that is what he is believing in, then we’re each going to face behind him all the way in which,’ Christopher’s stepmom, Christina Kingery (pictured) advised ABC 13 

In a press launch issued on Tuesday, representatives for the Bedford County Public Colleges  mentioned the coed parking contract was clear about flags. 

The shows are banned ‘on account of their potential to distract or hinder the view of scholar drivers as they’re navigating the varsity car parking zone.’ 

Officers mentioned these guidelines have been in place for ‘over a decade’ and are put in place primarily for ‘scholar security.’ 

In a press release to Fox Information Digital, faculty board officers famous the American flag doesn’t violate the coed code of conduct.     

‘Apparel that has language or pictures which can be offensive, profane, vulgar, discriminatory, or racially/culturally divisive,’ the assertion learn. 

‘This would come with accomplice flags, swastikas, KKK references, or some other pictures which may moderately be thought-about hurtful or intimidating to others.

‘It doesn’t embrace sporting clothes with American flag logos or prints on apparel.’

Earlier than quitting, Christopher attended Staunton River Excessive College in Moneta, Virginia

The flags are mounted onto the again of {the teenager}’s crimson pickup truck 

Officers mentioned faculties within the district ‘proudly fly the American flag all through the varsity, and the Pledge of Allegiance is recited each morning.’

Bedford County, the place Staunton River Excessive College is positioned, can be house to the Nationwide D-Day Memorial. 

In keeping with the monument’s web site, Bedford, Virginia, was chosen as the location for the patriotic memorial for a number of causes. 

‘The Virginia city misplaced nineteen of its males engaged that day, all members of Firm A, twenty ninth Infantry Division, presumably the biggest per capita lack of any city in America on that day,’ the monument’s web site states.

A further 4 troopers died later within the World Battle II effort.