BUZZ
According to superintendent, she actually asked staff to ‘hold off’ on wearing the shirts pending review of ‘district practices‘
According to a recent viral post on X, a Kansas elementary school principal allegedly forbade staff from wearing shirts with the word “Freedom” on them, popularized by Charlie Kirk.
On Monday, Libs of TikTok received an email exchange between Arbor Creek Elementary Principal Melissa Snell and an (unnamed) individual in which Snell confirmed the ban.
“I just want to make sure that you have told your staff to not wear those ‘Freedom’ shirts to school anymore. Thank you,” asked the individual.
“Yes, I have,” the polychromatic-haired Snell replied. “Was there someone in particular that you are referring to? If you don’t mind me asking.”
As noted in Libs of TikTok’s post, the Olathe Public Schools district itself sells “We All Belong Together” shirts via its Department of Culture and Belonging. According to the dept. website, its leader Kathleen Smith is “a champion for all who uplifts and unifies students, staff and community” and made just under $80,000 in 2023, according to OpenPayrolls.com.
The main district website currently features a scroller noting how “federal dollars support [the] district” (almost $28 million for “K-12 resources and staffing”).
According to The Olathe Reporter, “many negative comments [were] directed at Snell” and the district’s “Belong” shirts after the Libs of TikTok post “blew up.”
The report notes an email from Deputy Superintendent Lachelle Sigg to the school community noted “comments and online exchanges” regarding the Snell issue “have caused a safety concern at the school.”
“Unfortunately, the post has also led to hateful comments online directed at Arbor Creek’s principal and our school district, including personally identifiable information about your principal,” the email read. “Please know that we take the safety and security of all of our staff, students and families very seriously.”
Sigg added the district “remain[s] committed to […] honoring all first amendment rights and ensuring that personal expression does not disrupt the educational setting.”
(Libs of TikTok posted a copy of the email which claimed the account was spreading “misinformation.”)
KMBC reported on Thursday about the security concerns, mainly from various parents upset at comments directed at Snell. However, the district said there had been no actual threats made against the district.
Also on Thursday, Superintendent Brent Yeager (pictured) confirmed the emails Libs of TikTok had posted earlier in the week, but said Snell merely had told staff to “hold off” on wearing the “Freedom” shirts until she “reviewed district practices.”
As noted by The Reporter, the First Amendment “does not entitle teachers to advocate for a particular viewpoint while teaching to a captive audience of students,” and the Olathe Board of Education policy prohibits staff from using “school time, school property, or school equipment” for the advocacy of a political party, issue, and/or candidate.
Although the “Freedom” shirt typically worn by Kirk seems rather generic, it nonetheless “is associated” with the conservative pundit who, according to The Reporter, “was often described as ‘divisive.’”
MORE: Kansas Dept. of Ed official fired after calling Charlie Kirk’s murder ‘well deserved’
