Conroe ISD Trustee Melissa Dungan wants fellow board members to enforce district policies and state laws to keep personal ideologies out of classrooms and limit flags on campus to the American flag, Texas flag, school flags and college pendants.
During the board’s Aug. 1 special meeting, Dungan said she has received numerous complaints from parents about different items displayed in classrooms.
“When children are told what and how to believe whether it verbal, in writing or through visual symbols, they miss out on the freedom to think for themselves and use the skills they are learning in the classroom,” she said.
Dungan said the display of personal ideologies, such as the Pride flag, is a growing trend in schools and should be addressed including potentially enhancing existing school policies.
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“I wish I was shocked at each of the examples shared with me, however, I am aware these trends have been happening for many years,” Dungan said. “I hope we can take steps in working with our superintendent and school administrators to ensure CISD has the best learning environment where personal ideologies are left at the door.”
Dungan specifically asked the board to adhere to state law that requires the American and Texas flags be displayed “prominently” and allow for only school flags and college pendants in schools.
Trustee Datren Williams questioned enforcing the flag policy referring to history-based classes that might have flags from previous eras or other states and countries.
“So, if you put all the state flags along your classroom, that’s an infraction,” Williams asked.
Trustee Misty Odenweller said that would not violate any policies because those flag displays would be part of the curriculum.
“That is displaying the flags of our county,” Odenweller said. “It is when you start putting the presence of personal ideologies out there not educational ones.”
Odenweller said there was an issue at The Woodlands High School where the Pride Flag was displayed.
Superintendent Curtis Null said that situation was addressed because the district already has a policy that state teachers can’t display certain items that are political and do not pertain to the curriculum.
However, Null said, the challenge is some classes address controversial and political issues.
“To be a U.S. government teacher today, how do you say anything without making somebody mad?” Null said. “We have policies in place to help teachers be neutral.”
Board President Skeeter Hubert said both district policy and state law adequately address situations where specific items are displayed. He said any situations that are brought to district officials are and will be addressed to ensure they are not violating policies or laws.
Trustee Stacey Chase and Williams said the district should be careful about overstepping existing policies and state law.
“I think this is a slippery slope,” Williams said.
