Michigan Teacher Tells Student 'go back to her own country'

One of the greatest things about living in America is the freedom that you and I enjoy.

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This freedom was not given to us; instead, it is thanks to the brave men and women who fought and died for us and the rights we enjoy today.

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The American flag is a beautiful symbol that represents our country and all that it stands for.

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It represents the right to do and say things with which some people may not agree, without facing any kind of criminal punishment or persecution.

Recently, a Michigan 8th grader decided to sit during the Pledge of Allegiance, and the teacher's reaction was inappropriate and disturbing.

Michigan Teacher Tells Student 'go back to her own country'

In January, Danielle Khalaf, an 8th-grade student at East Middle School in Plymouth, decided to sit down during the Pledge of Allegiance.

According to Khalaf, her teacher called her out in front of the entire class.

"She told me that since I live in this country and enjoy these freedoms, if I don’t like it, I should go back to my country, It crushed me. It broke me."

Why She Sat For The Pledge of Allegiance

Khalaf said she decided to exercise her right to sit during the Pledge of Allegiance to protest the conflict in Gaza.

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After this happened, Khalaf's family decided to file a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

Jacob Khalaf, the girls father told Fox 2 why they filed the complaint.

"This isn’t just about my daughter. This is about every child that has ever felt marginalized, disrespected, or unheard in their own school."

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Response

A spokesperson for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools responded in a statement saying:

Student safety is a top priority and discrimination isn’t tolerated. The district became aware of this incident after it occurred. As with all complaints, an investigation was conducted, and appropriate action was taken in alignment with district policies and procedures. But because this is a personnel matter, the district can’t share details about the teacher."

I can understand why some people, including this teacher, might be upset when someone decides to sit or takes a knee. However, they should also recognize that because of that flag, we can also show our disagreement without facing jail or criminal persecution.

It's concerning that an adult like this is allowed to be around students after what was said, and the fact that they had no hesitation to say something like that to a young student who was BORN IN AMERICA.

I hope that some people will learn from this, but unfortunately, I doubt that will happen.