BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — Reports of student conflict have recently emerged from Massena Central School, with LGBTQ+ students and various other students butting heads over the use of Pride and Confederate flags in school.

“Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States,” according to the Library of Congress website.

According to Superintendent Pat Brady, LGBTQ+ students and allies were seen wearing pride flags in school in celebration of the month. In reaction, a number of various other students wore Confederate flags and shirts, as well as “Don’t Tread on Me” shirts and flags.

"This week, some students wore rainbow flags to school to celebrate Pride Month where members of the LGBTQ community express the freedom to be themselves. Unfortunately, this led to some students choosing to bring in confederate flags in response. The result was significant concerns among students and staff as conflicts arose with the flags being worn. The District is committed to creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students. The confederate flag as a symbol of slavery, hate, and division has no place in our schools. As administration dealt with this issue it provided an opportunity to help students understand why this symbol has been and continues to be a sign of intolerance,” Brady said.

Officials sought to address the situation quickly to avoid any further potential conflict and disruption in classrooms, though students did plan a walk-out for June 3rd in protest.

Brady elaborated further, saying that despite the district’s support of minority students, including LGBTQ+ students, the wearing of any flag is a violation of school dress code.

“While the District supports LGBTQ students who seek the freedom to express themselves, the wearing of any flags around a student’s body in school is a violation of the dress code as it can lead to substantial disruption of education as we saw this week. Our LGBTQ community were welcomed to express themselves in other ways that were not in violation of District policy,” he said.

According to Brady, around 20 students did follow through on the walk-out on June 3rd in “protest of the flag issue and to raise awareness of some of the obstacles they face in school by being LGBTQ.”

Brady also said the situation and subsequent walk-out created an opportunity for counselors, teachers and administrators to listen to the concerns of LGBTQ+ students to better develop solutions to make the school a more inclusive environment.

“Schools are a reflection of our society with all of its complexities and divisions. So the issues we see challenging our communities will make its way into the schools. It is our job as educators, parents, and community members to provide such teachable moments as we saw this week to help students deal with conflict in a productive way,” Brady said.