Size does matter?

[Dreamer128]

Thousands of flags needed under new state law
an Associated Press report 12/06/04

ORLANDO - More than 15,000 American flags need to be replaced in public-school classrooms in central Florida by the end of the school year because they are smaller than required under a new state law.

The law, requiring every Florida public classroom to display an American flag, includes a 3-foot-by-2-foot size requirement. Many flags already used in classrooms aren't large enough.

"We already had flags in every classroom," said Richard Wells, the district spokesman in Seminole County. "They just weren't the ones specified by the law."

Because the law states that districts should "attempt to acquire the flag through donation or fund raising," many schools regionwide have spent the fall looking to community groups and businesses to pay for their flags.

In Seminole County, for example, Bank of America has agreed to donate half of the 4,000 flags the district needs, at a cost of about $4 each, Wells said.

Lawmakers estimate there are 156,000 kindergarten-through-12th-grade classrooms in Florida.

"Had the school districts come to us, and said, 'We have suitable flags,' I would have had no problem grandfathering them in," said state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who led the movement for the law.

The law is known as the Carey Baker Freedom Flag Act, named for the Eustis lawmaker who spent a year serving in Iraq. Fasano said he would be surprised if any school had to buy flags on its own.

Carl Persis, principal of Ormond Beach Middle School in Volusia County, said these groups are needed right now for more serious projects such as collecting holiday food for the needy and lending a hand to hurricane victims.

Volusia schools need 3,300 new flags, or about $15,000 worth. The most popular flag size in Volusia -- 12 inches by 18 inches -- is half of what the state now requires, district officials said.

"I really do think it's just a total waste of effort and money," Persis said. "We already have flags. It's not the size of the flag that matters, it's the idea that students are aware of what the words mean in the Pledge of Allegiance and that they stand every morning and express themselves and recite the Pledge."

Orange County school officials aren't sure how many flags the district needs because donations are being organized at the school level, district spokesman Lin Wright said.

(http://www.tampabaylive.com/stories/...206flags.shtml)

[shadowhound]

Oh come on, I have enough trouble with the idea of making schools have American flags in classrooms... this is just getting rediculous. What purpose does it serve to make all flags have a minimum size?

[bjorn]

I didden't even know schools were required to have a flag in every classroom. How many states have such a law? Are the students also required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance?

I can imagine that law was passed to promote patriotism (as if it wasen't enough of that already ) but making that kind of law seems to defeat the purpose of it in the first place, dosen't it? What is it worth if you're forced to be, or at least bullied in to being patriotic?

I won't even comment on having a minimum size requirement of the flag. That's just too ridiculous...

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Our tax dollars at work, people. I suggest the person who suggested this law be relieved of their job... If they're regulating flag size, they have too much free time on their hands.

[Chewbacca]

Stupid is as stupid does.

[Khazadman Risen]

Welcome to the wacky world of government beurocracies.

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by Illumina Drathiran'ar: Our tax dollars at work, people. I suggest the person who suggested this law be relieved of their job... If they're regulating flag size, they have too much free time on their hands.

ROTFLMAO! Preach It Illum, Preach It!

Shadow, & Bjorn, They are Government Schools, paid for by Money the Government has taken in taxes. The classroom are located on property the Government owns! While IMHO writing a law regulating the size of the flags, is a waste of time that could have been better spent, doing I don't know maybe studing their navels and contemplating the Ephrix. The fact is just like with your House/Room/Apartment/incert property of choice here, you have the right to decide what you want in it. The Government has the right to decide what to put in it's property, no matter how stupid another thinks it is.

[shamrock_uk]

I'm confused now JD! Are you defending big, bloated government on the grounds of freedom of choice? Surely a government doesn't get the choice to spend your money on some frivolous law like this - the choice should be yours to not have to pay for ridiculous stuff like this with your taxes?

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: I'm confused now JD! Are you defending big, bloated government on the grounds of freedom of choice? Surely a government doesn't get the choice to spend your money on some frivolous law like this - the choice should be yours to not have to pay for ridiculous stuff like this with your taxes?

I'm not defending it, just saying it is. You have to remember the Government is a distinct entity, having the right to decide what to do with it's property. Having the "right to do something" is not the same as "doing something right". And unfortunitly yes the Governement does get the choice to spend my tax money on things I believe to be frivolous. But hey that's the price I pay for not being World Dictator.

If I still lived in Florida, and the author of the law was my elected offical I would have to think long and hard about voting for them.

[Luvian]

Originally posted by bjorn: I didden't even know schools were required to have a flag in every classroom. How many states have such a law? Are the students also required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance? I can imagine that law was passed to promote patriotism (as if it wasen't enough of that already ) but making that kind of law seems to defeat the purpose of it in the first place, dosen't it? What is it worth if you're forced to be, or at least bullied in to being patriotic? I won't even comment on having a minimum size requirement of the flag. That's just too ridiculous...

I agree, this is bordering on fanaticism...