In a shocking turn of events, a California seventh-grader, Jimmy Heyward, has been expelled from Saint Bonaventure Catholic School after his principal censored his patriotic campaign speech. Heyward, who was running for Commissioner of School Spirit and Patriotism, was told by Principal Mary Flock to remove all references to patriotism from his speech. When he refused, he was humiliated in front of his peers and not allowed to deliver his speech. Heyward’s father protested the decision, leading to the police being called. A petition organized by Heyward’s mother, Hattie Ruggles, called for Flock’s removal and was successful, with the principal resigning. However, in a shocking twist, the school has now informed the Heyward family that Jimmy and his sisters won’t be allowed to attend the school next year due to “serious violations of the Christian Code of Conduct and the Parent Electronic Communications Policy.” This controversial decision has sparked outrage, with many questioning the school’s commitment to free speech and patriotism. Join us as we dive deeper into this developing story and explore the implications for student rights and the role of patriotism in education.
