A California history teacher was frustrated to discover that a substitute teacher had taken down and folded his flag while he was out of town. In a now-deleted post on r/mildlyinfuriating, Cfx99 explained that the American flag-themed novelty banner was a gift from his students and featured a photo of him posing with a baby alpaca. “My sub apparently thought it was disrespectful to the flag,” he told the thousands of online users who engaged with his post.
Cfx99 argued that the flag, while a playful take on a well-known American symbol, contained “nothing political, inflammatory, or obscene.” He also noted that it was displayed on a sideboard behind his desk, rather than on the main board used for instruction. Additionally, the classroom reportedly has its own standard American flag.
Social Media Weighs In
Unfortunately, not everyone sided with the history teacher over his gag flag not affecting regard for the real thing. “Technically, it is ‘disrespectful.’ It’s definitely against flag code, and the schools probably loosely abide by it,” remarked a commenter, with thousands upvoting in agreement. Though some others chimed in in disagreement: “Rules about flags are maybe some of the most pointless rules ever created.”
Many felt the substitute teacher had overstepped by altering classroom décor that wasn’t theirs to change. Others noted that the gag flag symbolized how much the history teacher was liked and appreciated by his students, and that the substitute had disrespected that connection. “It’s a flex that the teacher is truly liked and appreciated by their students,” one Redditor remarked. Cfx99 responded with humor, saying, “I am more than a flag.”
While the flag may not be intended as a political statement, the teacher firmly believes it reflects the culture he wants to create in his classroom. “Even the kids who had it made knew it was ridiculous. That’s the point. It stays to break the ice immediately,” OP explained. His goal is to show students that his classroom is a welcoming, lighthearted space—something his substitute apparently failed to understand.
In the end, Cfx99 offered no explanation for deleting his post. However, in the comments, he made a clear effort to explain why the substitute teacher’s behavior had upset him so deeply. Fortunately, according to the message the substitute wrote on the board, they promised to return the flag to its original position once their shift was over.
