SAUGUS ― Oh, say can you see the American flag in the town’s school classrooms? Apparently not.
The Parson Roby chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution brought the school’s lack of attention to Old Glory in a letter to the School Committee.
“If there is a shortage, we would appreciate being informed, and we are willing to provide flags to each classroom that needs one,” the nonprofit organization’s letter stated. “As a service organization the American flag committee is a very important part of our mission in patriotic education.”
The letter was brought up during the public hearing portion of the most recent School Committee meeting.
At the meeting, School Committee Chair Tom Whittredge reassured citizens that there will be a quick solution to this issue and that there are enough flags for each classroom.
Because of the town’s new school facility, there is a need for “new everything,” according to Whittredge, who added that because of COVID-19, many orders have been backed up ― including new brackets to hold each flag up. The brackets have yet to come in, Whittredge said.
“It’s important to a lot of people; it should be important to all of us,” said Whittredge.
Whittredge explained how the schools will be taking the brackets from the old schools to expedite the process.
“The flags are there; it is a priority now and we will get them up” he said.
Another concern that was brought to the School Committee’s attention was students not being instructed to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Some residents stated that students had gone home and told their parents and guardians that they had just begun saying the Pledge of Allegiance the week before ― almost a full month into the school year.
While meeting attendants said they felt confused and disrespected by these reports, some mentioned their understanding that the process of adjustment has slowed down, both because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the district’s new school building.
Hannah Chadwick can be reached at [email protected].
