Kristin Pitzen joked on TikTok about how she removed the American flag from her classroom walls because they made her feel “uncomfortable.”

Many parents were outraged that her students will be taught to “disrespect” the American flag after she encouraged them to pledge loyalty to the pride flag. For more information about this educator and the reasons behind the outrage, continue reading.

Teacher Kristin Pitzen of Orange County’s Newport Mesa School District said why she took down the American flag from her classroom in a TikTok video that she later removed: “because it made me uncomfortable.”

“I packed it away and I don’t know where, and I haven’t found it yet,” she muttered into the camera, her laughter washing over her words.

She continued by saying that she tells her students to “Stand if you feel like it, don’t stand if you feel like it, say the words if you want, you don’t have to say the words,” during the morning reading of the Pledge of Allegiance, which is a symbol of national patriotism.

“So, my class decided to stand but not say the words. Totally fine. Except for the fact that my room does not have a flag,” she exclaimed while laughing uncontrollably.

She continues by saying that there wasn’t an American flag in class, so one of her students wanted to know what he should look at when he took the pledge of allegiance.

“In the meantime, I tell this kid, ‘We do have a flag in the class that you can pledge your allegiance to,” she said, her voice quivering with amusement. “And he like, looks around and goes, ‘Oh, that one?’”

Next, we see the pride flag flying from the wall.

Pushing pride

She did this on multiple occasions with her students.

Pitzen displayed her pride month classroom décor, which included numerous flags, in an additional video that has since been removed.

Speaking in the video, she declared her allegiance to the LGBTQ community.

She added: “I love you all very much – for the people who are out, who aren’t out. You’re appreciated. You’re loved. You’re enough. I support you. I got you.”

A symbol of freedom

Nobody loved or appreciated the teacher for indoctrinating the students with her ideals, and neither did the community or the school board.

Many were outraged by Pitzen’s behaviour, which they saw as desecration of the American flag, and the video went viral.

With the following statement from a mother: “We just heard the school was short some flags, so we decided we’d help them out to show our patriotism.” Several parents then proceeded to fill the school’s lawn with flags.

“I’d like to share with her, if she doesn’t know the importance of respecting the flag,” Michele Vaughn continued, whose son is in the military.

At the same time, everyone on the internet was furious with Pitzen.

A concerned citizen told Pitzen that the flag represents the freedom she enjoys today and is a living representation of that freedom: “I don’t think you really you get it, teach them it’s for the people who gave you the freedom and happiness you have now.”

Another person said, “You stand for the people who fought to keep freedom and you don’t understand how good we have it, and to insult the flag which stands for our country?”

“Maybe she’d like to live in Afghanistan,” added a third.

Pitzen was fired and is “no longer in the classroom”,Teacher removes U.S. flag from classroom, makes kids pledge allegiance to pride flag and the probe is ongoing since the clip was posted in 2021. She has now erased all her social media profiles.

Educators’ responsibilities in fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment, the right to free speech, and reverence for national symbols were all sparked by the incident. The school district may or may not take additional measures in light of this development.