A New Hampshire superintendent said that he’s launched an investigation after a high school student was told she had to remove her shirt supporting President Donald Trump.
Ciretta MacKenzie, a 14-year-old freshman at Epping High School, wore the white shirt, emblazoned with “Trump” and “Make America Great Again,” to school on April 8 for the school’s “America Day.”
The event featured students wear clothing with red, white, and blue. Ciretta’s shirt also featured the colors.
She was called to the office of principal Brian Ernest, who told her that she couldn’t wear the shirt.
Epping High freshman told to remove #Trump shirt on a school day celebrating American pride. “I thought for America Day it would be OK and there wouldn’t be an issue,” she said. #nhpolitics https://t.co/JK1M6xgOx6
— Jason Schreiber (@Schreibernews) April 10, 2019
Ernest then told her that Trump is a controversial president and that he didn’t want the shirt to make anyone feel uncomfortable, Ciretta told the New Hampshire Union Leader. He said that he didn’t want to make “America Day” political.
Ciretta said that she didn’t have another shirt with her and the principal replied that she might have to be separated from the rest of the students. “I wasn’t upset. I was just kind of surprised, I guess,” she said. She agreed to wear a sweatshirt from a friend over the shirt but added, “I don’t think I should have been told to cover it up.”
Rose MacKenzie, the girl’s mother, said that she wrote an email to Ernest questioning the decision.
“I explained that we need to separate political views from patriotism,” the principal replied. “In today’s climate it is important to not mix church or state.”
Investigation underway after Epping High School student told to cover Trump T-shirt at school https://t.co/KuCO44lXu0 pic.twitter.com/IivFV7CmDQ
— WMUR TV (@WMUR9) April 12, 2019
“I think it’s a good time for people to stop and reflect, ‘Am I teaching my child to be respectful of other people’s opinions?’” MacKenzie told the Union Leader. “In my opinion, the school shouldn’t be put in that position.”
Ciretta’s father Jason MacKenzie told the Union Leader that what the principal did was the “easy way out,” saying it could have been a teachable moment. “Is censorship the answer or talking about it? I thought it was the wrong way out,” he said.
Cieretta later said that she was harassed after covering up the shirt.
“After I covered up, because I was kind of ashamed, kids who don’t support Trump, some of them were, like, ‘You get what you deserve. Shouldn’t be wearing,’” she told WMUR.
“I wish he told me, ‘You are wearing a Trump shirt, he is controversial, I’m not going tell you to cover it up, but if you do have any harassment or anything, just come to me and I’ll handle it,’” she said. “I wish that was how he handled it. I think he took the easy way out.”
Epping Supt. Valerie McKenney has issued a letter to school community re: high school student told to cover #MAGA #Trump shirt. She confirmed that only 1 student was told to cover up shirt. Second told to remove hat for “no hat” policy. @UnionLeader pic.twitter.com/XpIQRaLWjS
— Jason Schreiber (@Schreibernews) April 11, 2019
After initially declining to comment, the school superintendent said he has launched an investigation into what happened.
“These issues are sensitive to everybody and require a thoughtful investigation and response,” Valerie McKenney, the superintendent, told the Union Leader.
In a letter issued to the school community Thursday afternoon, McKenney said that “when the investigation has been completed, we will take steps to remedy this situation for all parties involved and ensure that this type of situation never happens again in any Epping school.”
She said that only one student, Ciretta, was made to cover up a shirt while a second was told to remove a hat for the school’s “no hat” policy.
We’re deeply concerned about the actions of Epping High School in censoring this peaceful political speech in support of the President. We’ve submitted a public records request for more information concerning the District’s speech policies.
Full statement:https://t.co/Adz0LHOwgZ https://t.co/bzn43Y9jmU
— ACLU of New Hampshire (@ACLU_NH) April 11, 2019
No information about the investigation was posted on the district’s website or social media pages.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire’s legal director, Gilles Bissonnette, said that public schools have a long history of limiting students’ freedom of expression and said his office has filed a public records request seeking documentation other district’s speech policies.
“We are deeply concerned about the actions of Epping High School in censoring this peaceful political speech in support of the president,” Bissonnette said in a statement. “T-shirts, as well as hats, buttons and other wearable items, are a common way for students to express their views on everything from political races to social issues. Public schools should create an environment where the free exchange of ideas is fostered, not silenced.”