Pathfinder K-8, a public school in West Seattle, has restored the American flag to its flagpole after parents and community members raised concerns that it had been absent for the first two months of the school year while a Pride flag flew in its place.
The controversy erupted after a widely circulated photo showed the school flying a Pride flag over the Washington state flag with no US flag displayed at all. The school is part of Seattle Public Schools, where flag display policies require adherence to the U.S. Flag Code, including proper placement and order when multiple flags are flown.
When parents contacted the school to ask why the American flag was missing, Pathfinder’s newly appointed administrator responded in an email acknowledging the oversight. The administrator said they had not been aware the US flag was not flying and noted that large trees surrounding the flagpole had obscured visibility.
“As a newly appointed administrator at Pathfinder, I was not aware of this oversight,” the administrator wrote. “Due to the large trees surrounding our flagpole, I had not realized that the US flag was not being displayed.”
According to the email, the American flag was restored to the flagpole Tuesday morning, and staff are now ensuring that flags are displayed in proper order. The administrator affirmed the significance of the US flag, writing that it represents “liberty and justice for all,” and thanked community members for raising the issue.
Parents told The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI that the explanation didn’t fully address their frustration and that the “tree” excuse was unlikely but were happy to American flag was restored. Some argued that no school should go weeks without noticing whether the national flag was missing, while others questioned why the Pride flag was flying in its place.
For now, Pathfinder’s administration says the matter has been corrected, and the school will follow proper flag protocol going forward.
—Ari Hoffman
