UPDATE (9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11): Since our initial report, Wayne Reichenbach has issued an apology to the Jamestown School District for his Facebook post. He told WRFA that he based his comments on information he received from a parent of a student in the district, and not from the district itself.
EDITORS NOTE: Updated at 11:20 a.m. Friday to reflect the full statement by JHS principal Dr. Michael McElrath.
JAMESTOWN – A resident from the Jamestown area took to Facebook Thursday night to voice his concern over a purported school policy that he claims “No American flags can be worn on student clothing due to the fact it can be seen as offensive.” However, school officials say that is simply not true.
The individual voicing his concern over the alleged policy is Wayne Reichenbach of Jamestown, who provided a public Facebook posting not only taking issue with the policy, but also saying he is starting a protest against it.
The full statement by Reichenbach:
As of Friday morning, the post Reichenbach had been shared nearly 300 times.
WRFA has reached out to Jamestown Public Schools Friday morning seeking a response to the post or clarification. According to an email from the school district, “The information in this post is incorrect. There is no new policy and that was never said at the assembly by principal Dr. Michael McElrath.”
In addition, the district provided the following post reaffirming its support of the American flag.
It should be noted there is no mention of such a policy in the district’s official Code of Conduct, other than to say that “Items that are vulgar, obscene, libelous, or denigrate others on account of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, disability, or sexual orientation” are not allowed.
Clothing depicting the American Flag is not included in this policy.
Later Friday morning, Dr. McElrath issued a full statement in response to the allegations:
“The information circulating in a Facebook post regarding a new JHS school policy that the U.S. Flag cannot be worn on student clothing is incorrect. The JHS principals hold individual class meetings with the entire student body. At all of the meetings, dress code is discussed and that in addition to not allowing clothes that promote drugs, alcohol or violence, students are also asked to refrain from wearing any clothing that could be deemed offensive to others. Examples were given of clothing that could be deemed offensive to others including the confederate flag.”
– Dr. Michael McElrath
Naked Female abdomens and boys with underwear showing and pants falling down should be on your list!
Both those things are addressed in the policy
I doubt the principal actually said this. Mostly because of how stupid it would be.
People get so riled up over things nowadays. Protest something that actually matters, Wayne. Everyone just wants something to whine about. Oh and for the record, it IS technically disrespectful to wear the United States flag or it’s image as clothing. It has nothing to do with offending others it has to do with treating it’s image with respect.