In November of 2024, Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) in Texas banned the Virginia State Flag and seal from their schools and curricula due to new policies that came into effect following the Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources (READER) Act, regulating content in elementary school libraries. Although the READER Act has not been repealed, its implementation has been significantly blocked by federal courts due to First Amendment concerns. Regardless, school systems amended their district-level policies to comply with the act.
The Virginia State Flag consists of Virtus (a Roman goddess) standing on top of a tyrant in triumph, with the phrase “Sic semper tyrannis,” which translates to ‘thus always to tyrants’, symbolizing Virginia’s freedom from tyranny from Britain. The figure of virtue is wearing a robe exposing one breast. As a result of this “indecency,” lessons on the history of the Virginia State Flag were removed from the county’s curriculum.
“There’s a saying, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it, ’” said junior Sylvia Hayes. “To completely wipe the history of [a] flag that symbolizes freedom from tyranny, is a tyrannical move in itself.”
The flag and its history have since been removed from the educational platform, PebbleGo Next for elementary students enrolled in Lamar CISD.
“I understand the parents’ perspective on it, since a lot of [parents] don’t want their kids to be exposed to ‘indecency’ at an early age,” said senior Caitlynn Strader. “However, Virginia is a large part of U.S. history and that should be taught properly.”
The ban in Lamar CISD is not the first censorship of Virginia’s state flag and seal. Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli distributed a more “PG” version of the emblem in 2010 for his staffers to wear. The pin was, for the most part, true to the original seal, except with Virtus wearing an iron breastplate.
This causes many to question free speech and censorship within schools.
“I think censorship within schools is becoming a problem because things that shouldn’t be seen as an issue, like the Virginia flag, are being viewed in ways they shouldn’t,” said junior Kylie Cahoon. “Certain things need to be viewed in an educational manner rather than [seen as] inappropriate.”
The removal of the Virginia state flag and seal from Lamar Consolidated ISD classrooms reflects the district’s effort to comply with state law, while also sparking discussion nationwide about how historical symbols are presented in schools. As the debate continues, district officials across the country continue to evaluate educational materials to ensure they meet federal and local legal requirements while supporting curriculum goals.
