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As It Happens

Lesson in free speech: North Carolina teacher suspended for stepping on flag, gets death threats

When high school teacher Lee Fields stepped on the American flag in front of students, he was trying to make a point about freedom of speech. Now he has been suspended from his job and has received death threats.
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North Carolina high school teacher Lee Francis says he stepped on the flag to teach students about their constitutional right to burn it. He's since received death threats and been suspended. (Lee Francis)
As It Happens6:15North Carolina teacher suspended after stepping on flag

He wanted to give his students a lesson about the Bill of Rights — in particular, freedom of speech. So Lee Francis pulled out an American flag in front of his high school history class and stepped on it.

I guess that was the step heard around the world.- Lee Francis, high school teacher

Two students stormed out in protest. Francis has since received death threats. And has been suspended from his job. 

"I placed [the flag] on the ground and I took about two or three taps with my shoe and I guess that was the step heard around the world," Francis tells As It Happens host Carol Off.

The lesson was meant to illustrate the case of Texas v. Johnson. In it, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Americans have the constitutional right to burn their flag.

One student who walked out, Alex Dunn, took a photo of Francis standing over the flag and shared it on social media, prompting a wave of criticism from users.

Dunn told Fox News he found the lesson insulting to members of the military, like his father.

It shows that the Americans are so caught up on the victimless crimes that we don't show our support for those victims . . . that are being murdered at the hands of police officers.- Lee Francis

Francis says he meant no disrespect to soldiers.

"I come from a very long line of military service men and women and I would say that they fight for the country and not the flag," he says.

Lee Francis is standing by his decision to step on the American flag, but doesn't hold anything against his students who were offended and walked out of class. (Andrew Craft)

Francis says he hopes the debate over his actions will prompt people to think.

Teaching is my passion. It's what I want to to do. And I will do it anywhere anybody will have me.- Lee Francis

"It shows that the Americans are so caught up on the victimless crimes that we don't show our support for those victims that are dying, that are being murdered at the hands of police officers," he says. "We don't really value human life the same way that we value this flag, for example."

Many students and parents are supporting Francis. But the school superintendent is not. He's pushing for Francis to lose his pay during his suspension.

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"I didn't break any county policies or laws, I didn't break any federal laws. But, because [the superintendent] believed subjectively that it was inappropriate, that is why I'm being suspended."

Francis intends on taking further legal action. In the meantime, he says he doesn't know when or where he'll return to the classroom. 

"I love teaching. Teaching is my passion. It's what I want to to do. And I will do it anywhere anybody will have me."

For more on this story, listen to our full interview with Lee Francis.

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