'The Pride flag is not a political statement': Bisexual Michigan middle school teacher quits after he was ordered to take down Pride flag in his classroom
- Russell Ball, 43, had only been teaching physical education and health at Three Rivers Middle School for a year, but on Monday he handed in his resignation
- 'The Pride flag is not a political statement. It's a human rights statement because we are all human. We should all have the same rights. But we don't,' he reflected
- 'It was hard initially - leaving a job without having one lined up, but it all changed with the outpouring of support,' he said
- Ball said that he now plans to enjoy his time as a stay-at-home dad to his five children, including a 10-month-old
- Former students of Russell are lining up a protest on his behalf during the next school board meeting, set for 6pm on December 6
A Michigan bisexual teacher quit his job after he refused to follow school administrators' orders to remove a Pride flag from his classroom.
Russell Ball, 43, had been teaching physical education and health at Three Rivers Middle School for only a year, but on Monday he handed in his resignation.
Ball, who previously taught in Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor for a decade, received an email Friday from school officials saying that district attorneys were advising teachers to remove Pride flags until further notice due to 'external challenges,' he told DailyMail.com.
The father-of-five, who identifies as bisexual, said he felt disheartened by the notice and refused to remove the flag from his classroom.
However, by second period on Monday, he received a text message from the assistant principal giving him an ultimatum to remove the Pride flag.
'After 10-plus years in education, I tendered my resignation today, drove home for the last time and won't be returning,' Ball said in a TikTok video recounting his experience.
'The Pride flag is not a political statement. It's a human rights statement because we are all human. We should all have the same rights. But we don't,' he reflected in the video.
Russell Ball, 43, had been teaching physical education and health at Three Rivers Middle School for a year, but on Monday he handed his resignation. 'The Pride flag is not a political statement. It's a human rights statement because we are all human. We should all have the same rights. But we don't,' he reflected in a TikTok video
'By removing it, I feel like I'm being told I am invalidated, that I don't belong. And that's not a message I want to send to myself, or to any of my students, because regardless of sexual orientation and sexual identity, you belong, you matter. You always have a place in this world,' he said
Nikki Nash, Three Rivers interim superintendent said in a statement to MLive: 'This is an ongoing situation. We continue to work with the district's legal firm and board of education to ensure we are providing a safe learning environment for all students'
He continued: 'By removing it, I feel like I'm being told I am invalidated, that I don't belong. And that's not a message I want to send to myself, or to any of my students, because regardless of sexual orientation and sexual identity, you belong, you matter. You always have a place in this world.'
Ball said teaching throughout the pandemic had been taxing, but he took the job at Three Rivers hoping to reignite his teaching career.
He was hired at the very last moment when a teacher at Three Rivers took a job as a high school teacher. Ball joined the district three weeks after the school year had started.
'I was already feeling a high level of teacher burnout and struggling to meet the day-to-day demands of the education field. But when administration came around and told me I had to take down my Pride flag, I told them no, I was not going to be an active participant in the suppression and oppression of an already marginalized group that I'm a part of,' he said in the video while putting on a beanie with the Pride flag colors.
@russellballer let's GOOOOO! get it 4th graders! #teachersoftiktok #physicaleducation #over40 #dad #fitnesschallenge ♬ Exercise - No Rest
Ball (pictured with wife Andria Ball) also said he wanted to further engage in activism, after having participated in BLM and gun control protests, and volunteering at the local Pride festival
According to Ball, at least half a dozen of teachers at Three Rivers, including him, had Pride flags in their classrooms
Ball said his partner, Andria Ball, had been supportive despite initial concerns after he quit.
'It was hard initially - leaving a job without having one lined up, but it all changed with the outpouring of support,' he said.
Ball said that he now plans to enjoy his time as a stay-at-home dad to his five children, including a 10-month-old.
He also said he wanted to further engage in activism, having participated in BLM and gun control protests, and volunteering at the local Pride festival.
According to Ball, at least half a dozen teachers at Three Rivers, including him, had Pride flags in their classrooms.
'The Pride flag stands for love, inclusion and equality - something that should be present in every single classroom across the country,' Ball said.
He added: 'I got into teaching because I enjoy seeing kids succeed and reach their goals and being there for them when it happens.'
On TikTok, parents and students supported Ball's decision.
User Mary K, who said she is a parent in the district, responded: 'This is extremely disheartening. I am a parent of a TR Middle Schooler who is devastated at this loss. Thank you for standing up for what is right.'
'The Pride flag stands for love, inclusion and equality something that should be present in every single classroom across the country,' Ball said. Above, at a protest against hate
On TikTok, parents and students alike supported Ball's decision.
User Mary K, who said she is a parent in the district, said: 'This is extremely disheartening. I am a parent of a TR Middle Schooler who is devastated at this loss. Thank you for standing up for what is right'
Meanwhile user @Annawritenow said: 'From a fellow educator and ally: I see you, you're right. Thank you for standing up for what is good and correct'
@russellballer Sqat challenge with Mr. Ball! #physed #teachersoftiktok #over40 ♬ Originalton - Lisa-Maria Wagner
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'Wow. You are the kind of teacher the kids should have, and the district has made a terrible mistake. My heart goes out to you. You matter,' said another user.
Meanwhile user @Annawritenow said: 'From a fellow educator and ally: I see you, you're right. Thank you for standing up for what is good and correct.'
Ball said he has seen been contacted by a legal firm that's looking into the incident to see if there were any violations of rights or laws. But he said that was not the reason he stood up for his beliefs.
'I believe in setting an example for children. I believe in teaching them to have conviction,' he said.
Former students of Russell are planning a protest on his behalf during the next school board meeting, set for 6pm on December 6. Bell said he'll be there to support them.
Nikki Nash, Three Rivers interim superintendent said in a statement to MLive: 'This is an ongoing situation. We continue to work with the district's legal firm and board of education to ensure we are providing a safe learning environment for all students.'
Ball said he has not been contacted by school administrators since the incident.
