Tahoma HS Staff Innovate Cost Saving Solution to Comply with Flag Codes
Community members with connection to Tahoma High School (THS) have noted over the last couple months a “non-compliance” with U.S. and State Flag Codes within the building. While flag display in general is often a debated subject, it is written into Washington State law that both the US and State Flag “shall be prominently installed, displayed and maintained in schools.” Moreover, there are many in the community who take proper flag display seriously (especially our local veterans).
US flag codes state “The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.” Some classrooms throughout the school have been displaying the US and WA State Flags at the same height and at times flying “group” flags above the US Flag all together.
When THS administrators were made aware of the issue, they reacted swiftly to come up with a solution. The immediate fix was obvious. Raise the US Flag above all other flags. Unfortunately, the flag mounts used by the district didn’t allow for this to be accomplished in a manner that would be considered respectful. Furthermore, the State Flag mounts being identical to the US Flag mounts would need to be replaced with holders that allow proper variations in flag height.
US Flag casually placed above other flags in a leadership class after the issue was brought to the attention of THS staff.
This put the THS in an interesting situation. While both US and State Flag Codes are technically law, there are no “enforcement provisions” written into them, meaning that the laws are “purely advisory”. Flag protection acts have attempted to create enforcement provision in the past (namely to prevent flag burning), but such acts have been struck down citing First Amendment violations. And while THS is technically a state entity that receives both state and federal dollars, there isn’t a real threat of penalty should they choose to not comply. This means any effort towards compliance is done strictly out of respect for our community members who honor the cultural traditions of proper flag display.
It was clear that THS staff wanted to remedy the issue, but how were they to do it without spending tax-payer dollars that needed to be used elsewhere on multiple mounts?
Associate Principal Chris Feist, thinking outside the box, took the conundrum to the school’s Robotic and Engineering Teacher (Darren Collins) to see if he could engineer a cheap remedy. After examining the existing flag mounts, Mr. Collins came up with a simple but brilliant solution: a small 3D printed insert that would adjust the US flag angle inside the existing mount. The angle change would allow the US flag to properly sit at a higher elevation.
This simple little insert will allow THS to quickly bring flag displays into compliance at virtually no cost to the district.
While some may not find proper flag display to be of real concern, numerous community members are of a cultural background that honors and values our flag-based traditions. Tahoma Parents would like to thank THS staff for taking these values seriously and finding a neat and innovative cost-saving solution!
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