In 2016, many people believe their rights are being infringed upon. From President Obama wanting to take away your guns to a high school telling it’s students that Confederate flags are not appropriate on school grounds.

Back home in New Carlisle, Indiana, about 4.5 hours north of Vincennes University, New Prairie High School’s administration made the decision to tell their students that the Confederate flag was inappropriate on the school’s campus therefore asking the students not to bring them on school grounds. They gave other reasons for the “banning” of the flag, such as it obstructs the view of drivers or it can be distracting to others while driving. Therefore, sparking an outrage among students.

NPHS is a predominantly white school. In an area known to hashtag and tweet “the south will rise again,” the Confederate flag is commonly displayed around the area on “private” properties, and that is acceptable. On public grounds, such as NPHS, you do not have the full affect of your rights, such as the freedom of speech/expression. According to the Supreme Court case “Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District” (1969), the lower courts of the country have used this case on school attire, such as things like a nose piercing or colored hair being allowed, or such as a Confederate flag to not be displayed.

The students of this school blew a little misunderstanding out of proportion, getting the attention of news networks and continuing to argue for the expression of the Confederate flag on their clothing and on their vehicles while on school grounds. If they had simply only Googled any laws or supreme court cases involving the expression of students, they would not look like they were blowing everything out of proportion.