Tennessee House members are holding off making the first vote on a controversial bill that would only allow classrooms to display the Tennessee state flag and United States of America flag. The bill would also give parents the ability to sue school districts that violate the prohibition.
Representative Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, agreed to roll voting on the bill in the House K-12 Subcommittee for a week to add an amendment that requires parents to notify the school district before filing suit for a violation.
The bill has faced criticism from LBGTQ+ activists because it would effectively ban all pride flags in public schools.
“Parents have a right to send their children to public schools without those children being indoctrinated. Parents have a right to raise their kids with the values they want to raise them with, and this bill has its origin in parents not being comfortable with the values represented by these flags that some teachers and counselors are posting in schools,” said Bulso. “I’ve literally heard from hundreds, if not thousands of parents across the state in support of this bill because they are tired of values that they don’t believe in trying to be foisted on them and their children.”
Parent Erica Bowton was among those who testified against the bill in the subcommittee, saying there is no danger that comes from having a pride flag in the classroom.
“There’s no imminent danger or problem that stems from displaying a piece of nylon. The hypocrisy is extremely difficult to reconcile given that this legislative body has repeatedly sent the message that banning items, even deadly ones such as guns, from schools and public places is a violation of the constitution. So how are we, as parents who want to protect our children, supposed to accept that lawmakers feel more threatened by a piece of fabric than an automatic rifle?” said Bowton.
Bowton also questioned whether Representative Bulso has a conflict of interest on the issue because of his involvement serving as the attorney for the Williamson County chapter of Moms for Liberty. The group has been pushing for the Williamson County School Board to adopt a policy that only allows the state and American flags in public schools.
Parent Becca Dryden also testified against the bill saying the pride flag is a symbol of inclusion.
“When I walk into a classroom and see a pride flag, it tells me one thing: not that this teacher has a nefarious gay agenda, but that LGBT students are safe and welcomed in this classroom. Flags are symbols. A pride flag is nothing more than a symbol of acceptance and inclusion. It is not intended to be divisive. Acceptance and inclusion should not be divisive,” said Dryden.
Bulso called the arguments against his bill illogical and claimed that it’s the pride flag that’s exclusive.
“There’s no denying the fact that it does represent a set of values. And one may agree or disagree with those values, but they exist,” said Bulso. “We can have political debates and we do obviously every day here in this chamber, but an elementary school is no place for a political debate. Kids go to school to learn, not be indoctrinated. And in my view, parents have a right to expect that they can send their kids to a public school without values represented by a pride flag, or any other similar political flag being used to try to influence the children.”
Bulso’s bill would not prohibit teachers from using geographical flags in lessons.
Age-Appropriate Materials Act Advances
The subcommittee approved another bill sponsored by Representative Bulso that would add a provision to the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 to allow parents the ability to file a civil action against a school district their child is eligible to attend if it doesn’t remove a challenged book. This would include parents of children who aren’t currently attending school in the district.
“A parent has a right to send a child to a public school that does not have age-appropriate material in the school library. And so very frequently, a parent may not enroll a child in a public school because of the presence of inappropriate materials. The bill as written would give the parent the ability to require that the inappropriate materials are removed from the school library so the parent could then send their child to the school,” said Bulso.
Representative Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville, expressed concern over this provision and the possibility it might run up costs for local governments to the benefit of attorneys.
“Can’t you see, although it would be extremely beneficial to your profession and to your colleagues, that this bill is going to increase our state exposure, the amount of frivolous lawsuits – not legitimate lawsuits, but frivolous lawsuits – that are going to be brought across these 95 counties and countless LEAs (local education agencies) based on people that are disinterested from public education?” asked McKenzie.
Bulso’s bill now moves to the Education Administration Committee for a vote next month.
