Re: Jack Teoli’s letter (Signal, Sept. 10).
Jack, honestly, I’m not trying to pick on you. I don’t think you’ve thought this flag issue through.
I believe — and I’m very willing to be corrected — the original issue was the display of the “thin blue line” flag at Saugus High School games. Some saw this as supporting our police officers while others saw it as supporting extremist right-wing viewpoints. This William S. Hart Union High School District policy came from dealing with an advocacy flag issue and there seemed to be no middle ground.
If you permit one type of flag — LGBTQ+, thin blue line, anti-vax, pro-vax, or whatever — then you would have to permit the opposite viewpoint flag as well or make your school vulnerable to a discrimination lawsuit.
You stated you want everyone to feel like school is a welcoming place for students. I think the best way to do that not to fly advocacy flags. Advocacy flags ensure division and not unity. Some students are going to feel unwelcome no matter what position is taken with a particular flag.
Michael Sandeen
Canyon Country
