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State legislature mandates flags in every classroom
UA alumnus believes flag teaches students 'about freedom'
By: Laura Ory
Issue date: 6/14/06 Section: News
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"It passed with overwhelming senate support," said Tyler Mott, a UA alumnus. "It's very pleasing to me that this is happening."
Mott proposed the idea of putting a flag in every UA classroom to administration officials in 2004 while he was a UA student.
He decided to try to make the idea happen at the UA after reading an article about a group of university students in Florida who were able to get their school to adopt the policy, Mott said.
Although UA administration officials thought his idea was noble, they decided not to pursue the plan due to the possible costs involved with the idea, such as vandalism of the flags, Mott said.
"It didn't deter me. I still wanted to get it done," Mott said.
Mott took his idea to the Arizona Board of Regents and state Legislature until state representative Russell Pearce decided to write the bill last year.
The bill, HB 2583, will require a 2-by-3 foot U.S.-made flag to be mounted in every classroom at the UA by July 1, 2007.
The intent of the bill is to promote patriotism among Arizona's students, Mott said.
"The flag is a great tool for teaching students about our freedoms," said Mott.
Tamara Begay, a junior from Shadow Mountain High School, said she also believes placing flags in the Arizona state universities will promote patriotism.
"It's more of a supporting thing. Especially for our troops overseas," Begay said.
Others disagreed that the bill would promote patriotism.
Visiting scholar Regmi Dhanangay said if the state wants to promote patriotism, a class or video about patriotism would do a better job than hanging a flag in the classroom.
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