Superintendent Arntzen, American Legion Partner on Stars and Stripes Initiative to Provide U.S. Flags for All Montana Classrooms

• May 11 2021

Superintendent Arntzen, American Legion Partner on Stars and Stripes Initiative to Provide U.S. Flags for All Montana Classrooms

HELENA - In anticipation of Armed Forces Day on May 15^th and Memorial Day on May 31^st, Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen is highlighting her partnership with the state and local American Legions to ensure that every Montana classroom has a U.S. Flag. Known as the Stars and Stripes Initiative, the program was unveiled on Patriot’s Day 2020 and has helped upwards of 200 classrooms receive U.S. flags already. For convenience, members of the public can donate money to purchase a U.S. flag on Montana’s Office of Public Instruction website. If the full price of a flag is donated, that flag can be sent to the school of the donor’s choosing. The flags are American made classroom-sized 16”X24” and include the staff and wall mount bracket.

“Providing our children the opportunity to honor our U.S. military and veterans through robust civics education programs in schools will set up our future generations for strong civic engagement,” said Superintendent Arntzen. “One way to encourage this is by proudly displaying our beautiful American flag in every classroom. I want to thank the American Legion for partnering with OPI to raise funds to purchase flags for Montana schools.”

“American Legion Post 117 is proud to join our State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen in getting U.S. Flags back in classrooms all across Montana,” said George Blackard, Americanism Chairman for Post 117 in Billings.  “On June 14th, 1923, The American Legion brought over sixty civic organizations together to write the U.S. Flag Code and now, nearly one hundred years later, we are excited to rededicate ourselves to honoring the symbol of our Nation and sharing our respect for our Flag with the children of Montana. This is a project that Legion Posts across the state can join in on and together we can promote Americanism and support the children & youth of Montana.”

State law requires flags in every school classroom but only if schools can afford them or have them donated. The program so far as raised over $2,000 and supplied schools from the HiLine to the Golden Triangle to the state capital in need of classroom flags. On April 16^th, Arntzen delivered 20 U.S. Flags to the Montana School For the Deaf and Blind in Great Falls.

Additionally, Superintendent Arntzen recently completed an update to Montana social studies state standards which includes a stronger emphasis on civics education and The Pledge of Allegiance.  Current standards were adopted in early 2000s, and the revisions will better prepare K-12 students with the education and information needed to assess and understand U.S. and Montana history and government.  They will also provide opportunities to weave Indian Education for All (IEFA) into all subject areas.  These standards go into effect on July 1, 2021.
 

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Contact:

Chris Averill, Communications Director, 406-444-3449