Carlos Ferralls, director of Doral Academy in Miami, became the focus of a viral debate this week after explaining in a video published by the communicator and influencer Enrique Santos, why many schools prohibit displaying flags during graduation ceremonies.
The video emerged in the context of several incidents that occurred during graduation season in South Florida, where families of Cuban, Venezuelan, and other Latin American origins have attempted to display flags from their countries during the ceremonies.
One such case, a Cuban who raised the Cuban flag during a graduation in Hialeah, went viral days earlier.
Ferralls himself proudly identifies as Cuban and recognizes the emotional weight of the issue, but he defends the rule with a practical argument.
"Everything starts with a flag of a country, and then flags with names begin to appear, featuring slogans and different things displayed on the flags. If you let one flag go, you have to let them all go. However, you don't know the message that a person might bring with a flag, what kind of image, or what they will put on that flag."
The director warns that allowing flags without restrictions would turn the ceremony into a show, into something different from what it is intended to be.
"Then it later turns into a spectacle that undermines the value of graduation; that is what people need to understand," stated the director of the educational center.
Ferralls draws a clear line between cultural identity and academic achievement. "I am very proud to be Cuban, my parents were incredibly happy when I graduated, but this is a school ceremony where you are graduating, not a platform to display whether you are Cuban or Venezuelan."
In the comments on the video, users highlighted how parents who try to draw attention by waving flags often end up being escorted out of the venue and miss their children's graduation, which is the purpose of the event.
Several users pointed out that some people use their children's important moments to draw attention to themselves. In other words, "they take away their children's opportunity to shine on graduation day."
Another user shared a different experience: "My daughter wore a stole featuring the flags of both countries we came from and for which we are grateful. They told her at the event, 'You can't wear it; it's only allowed when it ends,' and that was the case, respecting the rules is easy."
Most of the comments on the video supported the director's stance. "Many people, when asked to follow the rules, start saying that it's racism or communism. Until when? Just follow the rules and that's it; everyone will be happy!"
Doral Academy is a charter school located in Miami-Dade County, with a predominantly Latino student population. The debate about the use of the Cuban flag at graduations holds particular significance within the Cuban-American community.
Ferralls concluded his explanation by appealing to fairness. "To have a controlled ceremony, there are certain rules that must be followed. This way, everyone can be treated equally and given the opportunity to celebrate their academic achievements."
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