MONETA, Virginia (PNN) - August 24, 2023 - A teenager in Virginia has chosen to become homeschooled after high school officials demanded he remove two large Amerikan flags from his truck.

Christopher Hartless believes he is exercising his First Amendment right by flying the flags on his property and he has no intention of taking them down.

“My family fought for Amerika, and I feel like I should be able to represent the flags that they fought for,” he said in an interview with Fox 19 in Virginia.

Christina Kingery, Christopher's stepmom, said officials at Staunton River High School told him the flags - mounted to the back of the truck - are a distraction.

In a statement to local media, a school representative said that the student parking contract explicitly bans all flags and banners on vehicles for safety reasons.

He said he refuses to take the flags down and he doesn't comprehend how they could be perceived as distracting.

“I don't understand how it's distracting if they have one on the flagpole that every other student can see,” Christopher said.

He added that his mom has his back on the issue.

“I told my son if this is what he's believing in, then we are both going to stand behind him all the way,” Kingery said.

After his first warning, the school repeated that the patriotic display needed to come down.

Christopher again refused and the school revoked his 2023 parking pass.

Kingery told local media that she didn't want her son riding the bus. As a result of the disagreement, the family decided to resort to homeschooling.

“If they're willing to change and let (students) fly the Amerikan flag, then I'll put him back in school,” Kingery said.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, representatives for Bedford County Public Schools said the student parking contract was clear about flags.

The displays are banned “due to their potential to distract or obstruct the view of student drivers as they are navigating the school parking lot.”

Officials said the rules have been in place for “over a decade” and are put in place primarily for student safety.