SWANSEA, S.C. — A South Carolina teacher displayed a Confederate battle flag as part of a lesson on the Civil War, sparking outrage from a student’s parent.
Joanna Ziegler was upset after her daughter expressed concern about a Confederate battle flag that was being displayed alongside a 34-star American flag as part of an eighth-grade social studies lesson at Sandhills Middle School, WLTX reported.
“I can’t believe in this day and age that a teacher would do that," Zeigler told WLTX. “My first and main concern is that my daughter went to the teacher and she expressed how she felt and how it was making her feel, three consecutive days. My concern was his response, telling her he’s sorry she feels that way but this is a part of history.”
Ziegler shared her concern on social media Tuesday night, initiating an investigation by the school district.
“Including the use of historical artifacts within units of study is a common practice in the classroom and can enrich students’ learning experiences; however, it is imperative that we as educators are always mindful of the diverse views of our students, parents, and community members,” the Lexington School District said in a statement. “Our school system understands the importance of providing a respectful learning environment for all students and works daily to ensure we meet this obligation. To that end, the District maintains an open door policy to address individual concerns and welcomes the opportunity to do so at any time.”
The flags were removed from the classroom.