A school in Folsom, California, said it’s no longer cool for students to chant “USA.”
School and district officials in the area have warned students against chanting “USA!” as the celebration may come off as “inappropriate and intolerant.”
The principal of Vista Del Lago High School sent an email out to parents this week that chanting “USA!” sometimes conveys the wrong message to students.
In some situations across the country, students have used the chant as a way to insult minorities and foreigners, CBS reported.
The principal said the chant isn’t banned at her high school, but students should be mindful of when and how they use it, like after the national anthem.
Student Ryan Bernal told CBS that he doesn’t understand why the school can’t chant for their country.
“To say USA, you know, we’re all the same,” he said. “We’re all American. It doesn’t matter what your skin tone is or where you’re from.”
Vista Del Lago High School introduced the topic in a leadership class.
“I wasn’t angry, but I was definitely like, ‘Why can’t we chant USA?’” said Ryan Bernal, a student at the school. “To say USA, you know, we’re all the same. We’re all American. It doesn’t matter what your skin tone is or where you’re from.”
“I want to chant USA because I want us to pull together and help, not because I want anybody to feel left out or not a part of our country,” Natalie Woodbury, a mother of one of Vista Del Lago’s students, told CBS Sacramento.
Folsom Cordova United district officials clarified that there is no institutionalized ban on USA chants.
“I’m glad that they will still allow our students to cheer for our country,” parent Cody Santero said.
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