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It is a tradition among many high schools nationwide that seniors can paint in their parking spaces. Students have fun going out the summer before their senior year and painting their parking space exactly how they want it. Most schools have obvious guidelines which essentially state that the images or murals painted must be school-appropriate. Keller ISD went against the First Amendment and forced students to paint over their pro-Trump messaging, which was not explicitly stated to be against the rules.
One student went all out and had a Trump painting in red, white, and blue with a bandana going across his head that said with the stars on our flag. On the top of the mural of President Trump was President Trump’s name. A different student took a more subtle approach and just put the numbers 45 and 47 with a line in the middle to insinuate Trump was going to be the 47th President of the United States. While the intent is pretty clear that the numbers were representing pro-Trump messaging there isn’t anything in the parking space that has President Trump’s name or branding yet this student was still forced to take down his mural.
One member of the Keller ISD Board Of Trustees, Dr. Charles Randclev, opposed the schools decision to have the banners painted over. Dr. Randclev strongly stated, “Let me be clear. There is nothing offensive or controversial about respectfully painting or honoring a current or former President of the United States. We will take action and make it clear that the students can honor President Trump as the 45th, and soon-to-be 47th President of the United States, as they wish.” This strong messaging shows that Texans will not and do not stand with the sentiment of destruction of the freedom of speech.
Keller ISD is a very large school district home to more than 34,000 students. With a school district that big, power is most definitely an issue. It is essential that freedom of speech is upheld in order to preserve the innocence of students in the school. In 2023 a teacher in Keller ISD schools was arrested for improper relationship with a student as well as sexual contact. There are multitudes of issues with Texas public schools that can’t be solved by simply giving teachers pay raises which is why Texas Family Project has been calling for universal school choice.
The removal of these students murals is a clear attempt to remove freedom of speech and expression from Texas public schools. Texas public schools have had hundreds of teachers who have committed crimes against children in the last couple of years but their main focus seems to be censoring students right to their beliefs. There is a very clear solution to clean up the bad in Texas public schools that is in the hands of the legislators now.