'COEXIST' flag among items teachers told to remove from classrooms at Booker High in Sarasota

SARASOTA — Several teachers at Booker High School said instructors were told this week to remove flags, posters and other items that could be deemed "political," including one who said he was asked to remove a "COEXIST" flag from his classroom by the school's administration, under guidance from the Sarasota County School District.

The well-known "COEXIST" symbols filled in rainbow colors on the flag in instructor James Baldwin's classroom were deemed potentially political, according to the teacher. Baldwin took to social media soon after the removal of the flag to express his disappointment with the school district and concern over his students' well-being.

"I am so disheartened by the direction of our district and state. It's not about me, it's about my students. The ones who felt heard, loved, and accepted and now come into a class with a big empty space," the Exceptional Student Education teacher's post read.

Baldwin he and other teachers were told by Booker Principal Rachel Shelley that district administrators are attempting to avoid instructors possibly being labeled as taking political stances, running afoul of state guidelines.

A second teacher confirmed Friday morning that Booker High’s administration had requested the removal of items from at least six instructors earlier this week. Gail Foreman said Shelley walked through each of the school’s classrooms recently and made note of items that the district could deem political. The administrator later asked the handful of instructors to remove the items from their classrooms. 

Foreman said she was asked to remove several items including a rainbow Pride flag, a Whiskey Rebellion flag, and a lesbian Pride flag she received from a former student. 

“I have taken everything down in my room except for anything that is district provided or school provided and that's the way I'm going to remain,” she said.  

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It was "based upon district guidance, to avoid the idea that teachers were being political," Baldwin said via email.

Foreman said that four of the six teachers who were asked to remove personal items were members of the LGBTQ community. She said items required to be removed from classrooms included miniature Pride flags, hats, and a poster that read ‘Black Minds Matter.’ 

Attempts to reach Shelley were unsuccessful Thursday and Friday.

District spokeswoman Kelsey Whealy issued a statement Friday in response to questions that confirmed the removal of Baldwin's flag from the classroom. According to the statement, the flag was a violation of School Board Policy 2.51 (Political Activity on School Board Grounds).

Baldwin's flag contained a mix of religious symbols used to spell out the word COEXIST, including the Muslim crescent at the beginning and a cross at the end, as well as symbols for peace and gender. Rows of other symbols associated with various religions stretch across the top and bottom.

The COEXIST imagery has been around for about 20 years.

The action came less than a week after the Florida Department of Eduation announced that it rejected 41% of math textbooks submitted by publishers, an unprecedented number, because they failed to align with new state standards or included topics such as critical race theory or social emotional learning. It also comes amid a rising conflict over cultural values, issues in which Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken a lead role nationally in Republican efforts to aggressively push back against liberals and “woke indoctrination.”

DeSantis was signed into law the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act” on Friday. It puts new restrictions on how race is discussed in schools, colleges and workplaces. The legislation (HB 7) prohibits any teaching that could make students feel they bear personal responsibility for historic wrongs because of their race, color, sex or national origin.

Lawmakers voted in March to pass the legislation along party lines, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats opposing it.

The measure responded to criticism from conservative media that on critical race theory, which examines the role discrimination has played in shaping American history and modern society. Although not taught in Florida schools, DeSantis advances the fear that critical race theory threatens to influence how history and social science are taught. He got the Florida Board of Education last year to specifically ban its use in schools.

Democrats, particularly Black lawmakers, said the legislation is intended to diminish the inequities faced by minorities in this country, largely because it could make white students feel uncomfortable.

DeSantis also signed into law HB 1557, the legislation officially known as the Parental Rights in Education act which was dubbed by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. It states that: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

LGBTQ rights organizations say the bill could discriminate against gay and transgender individuals, and cause a chilling effect against students even discussing their LGBTQ families.

Foreman, 60, who has taught United States history, criminal justice, and sociology courses at Booker for the past 15 years, said she has not experienced anything like the current environment in her nearly 30-year teaching career.

“It’s unfortunate that our kids have to suffer through this. My classroom has been about recognizing every student, every parent. They all matter,” Foreman said. “This is a very slippery slope.” 

“It is about the kids. The kids don't understand why adults are so against them when we're supposed to be providing a safe space for them,” Foreman said. 

School Board plans to discuss the removal procedure with the superintendent  

School Board member and District 3 representative Thomas Edwards expressed his discontent with District Superintendent Brennan Asplen’s guidance to remove items from classrooms as a precaution, he said Friday. 

Edwards said he does not believe the superintendent was intentionally targeting LGBTQ teachers or students but is attempting to adhere to the new state laws. However, Edwards requested that the School Board open up a discussion about the procedure with the superintendent this week.  

“I don’t agree with it. By removing it as a procedure that may be deemed political. I have a problem with it,” he said. “Our LGBTQ+ students could be could perceiving this as that they're being discriminated against, or that they don't matter, or that they're minimized, or that they should go back in the closet. And that’s the kind of feedback that I'm getting from students and parents and teachers alike.” 

Board member Shirley Brown also said the move to remove items from the classroom was damaging to students.  

“It’s not only ‘Don’t Say Gay’, now it’s don’t see gay. They (administration) are taking out everything LGBTQ … talk about cancel culture, they are canceling these things,” Brown said. 

Brown said teachers and parents are growing wary of the administration as well as state legislators targeting marginalized communities. She also believes that legislators are using children to push their political agendas. 

“It’s frightening how they use this political power. They are using the kids and teachers are afraid. This is, in my opinion, an effort to attack public school teachers.” 

All SCS board members were contacted for comment however Bridget Ziegler, Karen Rose, and Jane Goodwin could not be reached prior to publication.  

Samantha Gholar covers news for the Herald-Tribune and USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at sgholar@gannett.com or on Twitter: @samanthagweires