Robin Flury is protesting the photograph of a U.S. flag-burning that a teacher has put on the wall of her social studies classroom.

While Flury acknowledged that flag-burning is not illegal, she said, "I don't agree with that action, and I just don't think a teacher in a public school has the freedom of expression" to put up the photograph.

The teacher, Erin Schwartz, said, however, that the picture is one of four from a peace march that she encountered in San Francisco in December; that it is surrounded by newspaper articles, a graphic of a flag and other photographs from the war; and does not appear to be of a flag being burned. "My kids didn't even know what it was until I pointed it out and explained to them what it was," Schwartz said.

Schwartz, a first-year instructor, said those representations are part of her goal to present different viewpoints to her students and allow them to think for themselves—not a representation of her personal opinions.

"I see why it offends people, and I understand that," Schwartz said. "I have my personal views, and I don't bring those views to my class. I believe my students are learning to become independent thinkers and think critically."

Flury has not yet seen the photo nor the classroom but said she feels that it's not necessary.

"I feel like I do know the context by what's been described to me, but I don't think the context is important," Flury said. "At this point, I don't think there's any educational value in this."

Principal Trudy McCulloch disagrees. "It's our obligation in education to present all viewpoints and let students make their own decisions," McCulloch said. "Ms. Flury certainly has the right to her own opinions, but she has to understand that as a school we have to present all different opinions, even divergent ones. We here in the district pride ourselves on our ability to let students form their own opinions."

"Is [Schwartz] presenting a balanced viewpoint of the situation?" McCulloch said. "Absolutely."

Flury initially found out about the photo through a student in one of Schwartz's classes. Flury said she is not his mother, explaining, "I'm trying to keep his relation to me separate from the issue."

Upon learning about the photo, Flury sent an email to McCulloch and the Los Gatos­Saratoga Union High School District Board of Trustees

McCulloch then replied to Flury. "Basically, the principal was very dismissive of my issues," Flury said.

McCulloch, on the other hand, said she was in the classroom for a formal observation on the day Schwartz discussed the photograph.

Schwartz said she was unable to keep shopping that day in San Francisco because of the protest and snapped the picture because she thought it would be a good example of how protests affect the economy.

Neither McCulloch nor other teachers who have sat in on her class have seen any partiality in her teaching, Schwartz pointed out. "I'm backed by the administration; I'm backed by my students," Schwartz said.

"We didn't even know it was there," said freshman Gretchen Sturm of the photograph. The wall is along the side of the classroom, near the door, and away from the students' focal point during class.

"Ms. Schwartz isn't saying flag-burning is great or anything; she's just talking about what it does," said senior Heather Delaney.

Junior Alex Lumbard said, "She put it up in her room just to show some kids what people are saying about the war. I don't know if she has an opinion."

Flury then turned to the Los Gatos High parent directory and alumni list and sent an email that summarized her position.

"I think it is highly disrespectful of Los Gatos High School to parade a photo of a flag-burning in the face of students every day. It is disrespectful to the students, to their families, and to their loved ones in the Armed Forces giving their lives to protect and preserve the freedoms that the American flag symbolizes," Flury wrote. "While some discussion of opposing views of the war may have fallen under the duties of responsible teaching, I feel that it is inappropriate for the teacher to continue to display this photograph."

Flury also posted a link to a website that she had created with a letter to McCulloch, asking her to take down the photo. The website also had space for people to sign their names and add comments.

"That was my intent: just to inform alumni, parents of students, the community of what's going on," Flury said.

"No one spoke with me," Schwartz said, adding that she was frustrated because she was not given a chance to respond before "everyone in the entire town of Los Gatos" received the email.

Flury contacted Schwartz later, and, in her reply, Schwartz invited Flury to come see the classroom. Flury responded that she plans to do so in the future.

According to McCulloch, Flury's use of the parent directory—the "Buzz Book"—was wrong. "I am very concerned that she's using email addresses. What she did was a total misuse of the Buzz Book," McCulloch said. "She really broke a trust with the parents."

On the first page of the Buzz Book is this statement: "The use of this publication for commercial, political or any other form of solicitation is strictly prohibited."

Los Gatos High parent Patricia Eastman said she was "disturbed" when she received Flury's message, not only because Flury had gotten her email address but also because of the content.

"I was horrified and so was my student and other students that I've spoken with," Eastman said. "I was just appalled. It was as if we were in the 1950s again."

Eastman said Flury's activism is "an attempt to stifle" the freedoms that the country has gained since that era. "The whole issue of not being able to put up a dissenting picture in a history class strikes me as extremely provincial," Eastman said.

Rhonda Raider, parent of a Los Gatos High student, said she did not sign Flury's letter because she did not know the whole story.

"I would expect that it was in an educational context presenting the various forms of protest," Raider said. "I think context is everything."

Her husband, however, did sign the letter.

Andy Raider said Flury's email gave him "the impression that [Schwartz] was trying to make a political statement."

"I thought it was an inappropriate message to be sending our students—we need to be supporting our troops," Raider said. "My image was, it was put up there to express disapproval with the war."

Raider said high school students are "impressionable people" and should not be presented such a display. "It would've actually been nice to have a picture of the classroom on [Flury's] website," Raider said, adding that he was unaware that Flury had not visited the room.

Flury said she had received several signatures and heard nothing but support for her opinions. Some of the comments that were posted suggested that Schwartz should be fired and even forced to leave the country.

"It's not about the teacher. I'm not campaigning to have her removed from her position or anything like that," Flury said. "My intention is not to change anyone's minds; it's just a place for people to have their voices heard."

Susan Thompson's son is in one of Schwartz's classes. "In my family, the flag is a symbol. It's a symbol of the freedoms that we have," Thompson said. Burning the flag "is disrespectful and hateful," Thompson said, and the image of that act "could be shown to the students, but why leave it up?"

Thompson added that her son agrees. "He would like it not to be there," she said.

Parent Laurie Pimentel said she added her signature to the letter because she feels strongly "that no one should burn the flag."

"If she's teaching about different viewpoints, then it's OK," Pimentel said. "The way I read [Flury's email], the teacher was presenting her own viewpoints. If she has pictures up of Marines with a flag, then this picture is fine."

Rayna Lumbard said she was under the impression that Schwartz merely had displayed items of protest and opposition to the war.

"I realize that I didn't have all the information when I signed that letter," Lumbard added. "If you don't show all sides, you're not giving kids the opportunity to make decisions for themselves."

Los Gatos High graduate John Owens, now an assistant professor at UC-Davis, sent an email to McCulloch supporting Schwartz.

"Her job is to teach students. To hide behind popular points of view is a disservice to them. It's hiding them from reality," Owens said.

"I hope that the community will support what she's done," Owens said.

"I appreciate Ms. Flury's passion, but it seems really misdirected to me," said parent Ron McDowell. "It's totally taken out of context."

Larry Gerston, who has two children at Los Gatos High, defended Schwartz's actions from his position as a professor of political science at San José State University.

"I'm not taking anybody's side; I'm simply taking the side of free speech," Gerston said. "The fact that we don't like it and still allow it speaks for our acceptance of differences."

While Gerston said he understands Flury's "anguish" and said he personally does not condone flag-burning, he supports the concept of being tolerant. "I certainly mean no disrespect to her, but I disagree with her. There are things out there that will offend one segment of society or the other," Gerston said. Acts such as flag burning are "what we're fighting for in Iraq."

"My opinion of the war is completely irrelevant to my patriotism," Schwartz said of the personal attacks that have been lodged against her.

"I'm glad I took pictures of it, and I think it's living history," she added.

Schwartz said, however, that she has been taking Flury's side in class discussions. "I'm defending Flury's rights to freedom of speech and freedom of the Internet," Schwartz said. "Everybody has First Amendment rights, and this is hers."

Schwartz also said her students are urging her not to take down the picture.

"Tell [Flury] to come look at the wall. Just come look at it," added senior Ben Koupal. "There's more up here than she thinks."

Junior Alex Lumbard said he had discussed the situation in his history class and thought it was "perfectly fine to have it up in the classroom."

"By this age in life, you can form your own opinion about the war," Lumbard said.

"They can continue to say that, and I will continue to rally for support," Flury said. "This is the community that I've grown up in. This is where my son will go to school. I do have a stake in it."