I am an Indian immigrant and teach ESL to immigrant children at a public school in New Jersey. I am also a proud American. 

My classroom is very diverse, with immigrant students from a variety of countries and cultures. Displaying the American flag in the classroom represents the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities we all share, regardless of background, belief, or identity. 

In contrast, flags tied to ideological or political movements stoke division and confusion, particularly for immigrants from different cultures, and creates an environment that distracts from building American unity and undermines families’ trust in our schools.

I believe that the only flag that should be permanently displayed in our public schools is the American flag. That’s why I’ve started a petition calling on our two candidates for New Jersey governor, Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill, to announce their support for such a policy.

As a teacher, I believe public education must remain focused on academics and free from political or ideological influence. This is common-sense for parents and taxpayers across the political spectrum. Yet this boundary is being crossed in ways that are harmful to many families and their trust in public schools. 

Politics, sexuality, gender, and other hot button issues – like religion – are deeply personal and private subjects best addressed within the family, not through flags in classrooms or school-led discussions that exclude parents and present only one perspective. They may appear inclusive, but they can in fact isolate or intimidate students – from the United States or another part of the world - who hold more traditional, religious, or culturally conservative values. 

Our public schools are important. They should be free from political and ideological influence. Instead of focusing on building a proud uniting American identity, our schools are creating more wedges to divide us, losing the trust of parents and taxpayers in the process.  

In the name of our children’s future and for preserving trust in our public schools, I am calling on our candidates for governor to announce their support that the American flag should be the only flag permanently displayed in New Jersey’s public schools. 

This is about true inclusion –it is about restoring balance, maintaining neutrality, and ensuring that all families feel respected and safe sending their children to public school. This is pro-unity, pro-families, pro-all students regardless of their backgrounds. 

Let's return to a shared symbol that unites all students and keep our schools focused on education, not ideology.