SALINAS, Calif. - A picture of the stars and stripes is putting the Central Coast back in the national spotlight. A Salinas family is outraged after a teacher called it offensive. The 13-year-old's mother, Tracy Hathaway said she doesn't know why the Gavilan Middle School teacher called the drawing offensive because she won't tell the family what's wrong with the picture. Hathaway wants to know why the teacher praised another student for drawing a picture of President Barack Obama.
"The president is a part of that and if one can be done then the other can be done as well," said Tracy Hathaway.
Tracy Hathaway said an art teacher told her daughter Taryn to stop drawing. The Hathaways wanted to know why, so they met with the vice principal and art teacher.
"We asked her what was offensive, the God Bless America or the flag itself? There was no answer," said Hathaway.
As of Monday night, three weeks after Taryn drew the picture, the Hathaways still don't have an answer. They just want to know why her daughter wasn't allowed to show her patriotism in art class.
"It didn't matter who it was. Frankly it could've been any student of any race and I still would be as angry as I was when it first happened," said Hathaway.
Hathaway said she understands what five families in Morgan Hill are going through and why these stories are making national headlines.
"Their freedom of expression in this case was being squandered and I didn't agree with that at all," said Hathaway.
The Santa Rita Union School District released this statement, "I asked the administration to contact parents again to see if there is any expectations from prior contact that have not been met. The principal did so and indicated the parents were satisfied that the situation had been handled." However, the Hathaway's are still waiting for an apology from the teacher. Also, Hathaway wants to send a message to parents.
"When you know your kids have done something right, stand by them," said Hathaway.
The Hathaways say they have another meeting with the school district later this week to talk about the picture.
