House committee advances bill limiting classroom flags to U.S., state and certain official banners

BOISE — The Idaho House Education Committee voted 12-2 on Jan. 25 to advance House Bill 10, a measure that would limit which flags and banners public schools may display, saying the intent is to emphasize the American and Idaho flags as primary classroom symbols.

Sponsor Rep. Ted Hill, D14, told the committee the bill is meant “to assure that the American flag and the state flag are the primary flags in the public school,” adding that other flags “are a distraction” from unity. The committee voted after nearly two hours of questions from members and testimony from teachers, students and policy advocates on both sides.

Supporters said the bill would restore neutral civic focus in classrooms. Edward Clark, a policy assistant at the Idaho Family Policy Center, told the committee that “by emphasizing the importance of the American flag in schools … this legislation encourages healthy patriotism in children across the state.” Representative Hill argued the bill is not intended to police pins, ties or other personal items: “If they want to wear those pins that's not part of this. They can wear those, that's just fine.”

Opponents said the measure is vague, risks chilling free expression and duplicates existing law. Cassie Horner, a Boise School District teacher,…