Teacher told to remove ‘Kindness is Everything’ flag in Michigan. Instead, he resigns
A high school teacher told to remove a flag that promotes inclusivity in his classroom has resigned from his position in Michigan.
“I am a great teacher and I will not have my quality called into question over maintaining an environment of kindness and inclusion,” Jeremy Cronk, the now-former Harper Creek High School science teacher, said in a letter to administrators. “Finding good teachers is tough and this is truly a ridiculous thing to be losing one over.”
His resignation from the Battle Creek school comes after draping a sign in his classroom that read “Science Is Real — Black Lives Matter — No Human Is Illegal — Love Is Love — Women’s Rights are Human Rights — Kindness Is Everything.”
Cronk was asked to remove the flag because of the “partisan message” it presented, Harper Creek Community Schools Superintendent Rob Ridgeway said in a statement.
“Our school policies and procedures prohibit employees from posting partisan materials of any kind in our schools unless they are part of our curriculum or staff receive approval from the building principal,” Ridgeway said in a letter to families and staff. “The flag was not part of our school curriculum, and the teacher had not sought permission from the high school principal.”
Cronk said he “fundamentally disagree(s)“ with the idea the flag was partisan, adding that “no statement on this flag is inherently political.”
The flag was put in the classroom, the science teacher said, to let students know they were in a safe space.
Ridgeway and the school’s principal both met with Cronk and requested he remove the flag, according to the superintendent. Cronk refused.
Cronk said he went back and forth with administrators for more than a week before resigning Thursday, Sept. 5. The school district confirmed his resignation.
“I make mistakes and mess up regularly, but I can confidently say that resigning from my position at Harper Creek High School was absolutely the right decision for me,” Cronk said on Facebook. “As a cis white male, I have friends, family and students that the statements on this flag apply to and they deserve to be supported, advocated for, and shown kindness.”
Multiple teachers in the school district voiced support for Cronk during a school board meeting Monday, Sept. 9, WWMT reported.
Ridgeway said a plan is in place for an educator to fill Cronk’s role in the classroom.
“As always, we encourage JOY, a HEART for PEOPLE and BELIEF IN YOURSELF,” the superintendent told families and staff.
Battle Creek is about a 120-mile drive west from Detroit.
This story was originally published September 10, 2024 at 8:40 AM.