Recently I have received newspaper clippings reporting high school students in nearby Jackson County have been denied the right to observe Confederate Memorial Day.

According to Angela Gary, a writer for the local newspaper, several Jackson County Comprehensive High School students were sent home by JCCHS principal, Robin Hines.

According to the article, Dr. Hines asserts the students "Went through the parking lot with the Confederate flag and caused some dissension among the student body."

We need to separate some facts here. Did the students purposely try to create dissension or disruption in the academic activities or were they exercising their rights to observe a legal holiday in Georgia, Confederate Memorial Day? Did their activities pose a threat to anyone?

The news story also reports that several students wore T-shirts to school with Confederate symbols in respect to Confederate Memorial Day. They were asked to change, and those who refused were sent home.

One parent, Kim Martin of Maysville stated that by week's end, Dr. Hines banned all Southern heritage T-shirts from the school. Her son, Drew, she says, "was discriminated against for taking a stand." According to Mrs. Martin, "the principal ruled her son cannot be a candidate for senior class president following his refusal to discard his heritage T-shirt."

In the same newspaper is the report of Terry Bruce who states "another group of students who found these flags racial and offensive approached one of the vehicles, took down the flag and attempted to set it on fire."

It seems to me Jackson County has a loose cannon attempting to operate a high school. The whole problem could have been eliminated by the example set in schools throughout Georgia. Honor Confederate Memorial Day. Hold special ceremonies. After all, it is an official Georgia holiday.

If indeed "another group of students" did in fact remove a flag from a vehicle and try to set it on fire, they are the ones who created the altercation, not the students who were honoring their ancestors. Why were there no reports of actions taken by either the police, sheriff or school authorities?

This story needs further elaboration based on a factual investigation by appropriate authorities. If what we've read from the local paper is close to accurate, some elected and education officials have a Constitutional obligation to act. If they don't, this case should be headed for the Grand Jury.

A word to the wise in Jackson County. Next year sponsor the celebration of Confederate Memorial Day. Join the rest of the state in this official holiday.

This story is but another example of what can happen when govermental and school officials play the political correctness game. It generally always gets out of hand when some are protected and immune from punishment and they create problems for which others usally get the blame and punishment.

Jeff Davis is a retired radio-TV journalist living in Gainesville, GA. Active in civic and political affairs, he is past president of the Georgia Jaycees, former vice president of the US and the world Jaycees, former campaign chairman of the Georgia Republican party. He voluntarily serves as chairman of the Georgia Heritage Council. He is a collateral descendant of President Jefferson Davis.