(Updated below with video)

Part of a temporary policy banning the display of all flags.

Don’t get excited, though. In fairness to the school, some students were displaying it really, really brazenly:

Skyline High School Principal Tom Stumpf said American flags were brazenly waved in the faces of Hispanic students and in one case a Mexican flag was thrown into the face of another student.

“When it involves the American flag and its abuse in vilifying other people, we simply will not tolerate it,” Stumpf said. “They were using the symbol derisively as misguided patriotism.”

And there’s your quote of the week.

Some students evidently defied the policy — the principal won’t say how — and a few got suspended for their trouble. “If this country means freedom,” asked one of them, “then why can’t we fly our own flag? It’s ridiculous.”

As it turns out, the Skyline High School student handbook is available online. Here’s what it has to say about freedom of expression:

Students may freely express their points of view so long as they do not seek to coerce, intimidate, or offend others. In addition, students must confine their literature and language to socially acceptable standards as interpreted by school officials. Students who wish to circulate petitions or distribute non-curricular materials on school property or in conjunction with a school activity must notify the principal a minimum of three school days in advance so that details may be worked out regarding the time, place and manner of distribution.

There’s a harassment policy, too, which says students shall not:

2. Display visual or written material or deface school property or materials, to demean the race, color, religion, national origin, sex or handicapping condition of an individual or group.

Presumably, the school’s decided that displaying the flag runs afoul of one of those two provisions. I can’t tell for absolute sure if it’s a public school or not, but if it is, then I’ve got a funny feeling lawsuits are a-comin’.

Meanwhile, also from the CBS link, equal and opposite stupidity in Virginia:

In Woodbridge, Va., a Hispanic second grader and kindergarten student were sent home from school for wearing homemade T-shirts that read “Latinos Forever” in Spanish. The elementary principal said he feared the T-shirts would be disruptive, given the widespread student protests.

“How is (a T-shirt) going to disrupt a kindergarten class?” asked Carmen Soriano, the younger boy’s mother.

Elsewhere in immigration news, the Washington Times looks at those rabid right-wingers who are so troubled by illegal immigrants waving Mexican flags. Like Mickey Kaus, for example. Or Lou Dobbs.

UPDATE: Here’s Fox’s report on Skyline High from Weekend Live with Tony Snow.

Click for video

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