MORGAN HILL (CBS) ―
On Cinco de Mayo, five northern Californial high school students came to school in red, white and blue, and got a very public lesson in school politics and free speech.
The boys came to Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill on the Mexican holiday, wearing t-shirts, shorts and shoes emblazoned with American flags.
Around 10 a.m., the assistant principal told sophomore Matthew Dariano he had to remove his bandana, which is against school policy.
But then Dariano said the assistant principal told all him and all his friends to take off their shirts, or turn them inside out, because some Hispanic students were upset and the school feared it would start a fight.
Dariano is part Mexican.
"Our Hispanic vice principal was taking their side, and was thinking that we were being racist towards them, so he was discriminating against us, making us take off our stuff," Dariano said.
"We're not trying to start trouble," said student Austin Carvalho. "We're in America. We can't wear our own colors?"
The boys refused to take off the shirts. They were not suspended, but they were sent home.
Referring to his shirt, student Dominic Maciel said, "I think it was disrespectful to my country, if I flip this inside out." Maciel is also part Mexican.
The parents of the five boys said the school's decision was un-American.
"You can't just single out these five. It doesn't work that way. That's not what America is about," said Julie Fagerstrom.
Cinco de Mayo is popular at Live Oak, which is 40 percent Latino. The school even had ethnic dancers perform at lunch.
Live Oak's principal had no comment. The Morgan Hill Unified School District, however, disagreed with the high school.
"The district does not concur with the Live Oak High School administration's interpretation of either board or district policy related to these actions," said Dr. Jay Totter of the district.
By sundown, the district met with all the students and parents, and they all got good news. The t-shirts can stay.
NorCal Students Wearing U.S. Flag Shirts Sent Home - cbs13.com
On Cinco de Mayo, five northern Californial high school students came to school in red, white and blue, and got a very public lesson in school politics and free speech.
The boys came to Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill on the Mexican holiday, wearing t-shirts, shorts and shoes emblazoned with American flags.
Around 10 a.m., the assistant principal told sophomore Matthew Dariano he had to remove his bandana, which is against school policy.
But then Dariano said the assistant principal told all him and all his friends to take off their shirts, or turn them inside out, because some Hispanic students were upset and the school feared it would start a fight.
Dariano is part Mexican.
"Our Hispanic vice principal was taking their side, and was thinking that we were being racist towards them, so he was discriminating against us, making us take off our stuff," Dariano said.
"We're not trying to start trouble," said student Austin Carvalho. "We're in America. We can't wear our own colors?"
The boys refused to take off the shirts. They were not suspended, but they were sent home.
Referring to his shirt, student Dominic Maciel said, "I think it was disrespectful to my country, if I flip this inside out." Maciel is also part Mexican.
The parents of the five boys said the school's decision was un-American.
"You can't just single out these five. It doesn't work that way. That's not what America is about," said Julie Fagerstrom.
Cinco de Mayo is popular at Live Oak, which is 40 percent Latino. The school even had ethnic dancers perform at lunch.
Live Oak's principal had no comment. The Morgan Hill Unified School District, however, disagreed with the high school.
"The district does not concur with the Live Oak High School administration's interpretation of either board or district policy related to these actions," said Dr. Jay Totter of the district.
By sundown, the district met with all the students and parents, and they all got good news. The t-shirts can stay.
NorCal Students Wearing U.S. Flag Shirts Sent Home - cbs13.com
