September 29, 2017
UNLIKE THE NFL, IT'S A GOVERNMENT ENTITY:
A school in Louisiana bans protests during the national anthem (The Economist, Sep 29th 2017)
ON SEPTEMBER 29th, at 7pm, when the Parkway Panthers face the Airline Vikings in a high-school football clash in Bossier City, Louisiana, the drama will begin before the first snap. The previous day, the principal of Parkway High School sent a letter to student athletes warning them not to mimic the widespread protests that took place over the weekend at National Football League (NFL) games. Parkway players attending "any sporting event in which their team is participating", wrote Waylon Bates, the principal, must "stand in a respectful way throughout the National Anthem". Anyone who kneels, sits or makes any sign of disrespect will risk being benched, or, with "continued failure to comply", subjected to "removal from the team".
There are plenty of constitutional rights--including 1st Amendment rights--that schoolchildren don't enjoy; but, at the same time, Mr. Bates certainly can't compel them to stand for the Anthem.
Posted by Orrin Judd at September 29, 2017 6:17 PM