NORMAL - A Unit 5 teacher's decision to damage an American flag as a demonstration of First Amendment rights has at least one student wanting out of her class, and a veteran is asking for the flag.

Social studies teacher Latisha Baker dragged a U.S. flag on the floor and marked on it during her second-hour class Thursday at Normal Community High School. It was part of a lesson on constitutional protection of freedom of expression by someone described as a respected and popular teacher.

"She told us how she dragged it across the floor, sprayed it with water, and then stomped on it and colored in four stars," said freshman Michael Powell of Bloomington, who is in her eighth-hour class.

School officials are looking into the reports. Superintendent Alan Chapman said on Saturday that it was too early to comment on whether the administration would take any action.

"I don't want to speculate on that until we have all the facts," Chapman said.

Powell and his mother have asked to have him transferred into another class because of the incident.

Powell, 15, said he believes she has a right to damage the flag, but he disapproves of where she did it.

"She can do it because it's her right. I don't think she should do it in class in school," said Powell, who is considering a career in the military like his father and grandfather.

If the demonstration wasn't in a classroom by his teacher, "I wouldn't care so much as I do now," Powell said.

The Pantagraph tried unsuccessfully on Friday and Saturday to reach Baker for comment.

Powell's mother, Tammy, said Baker called the family Saturday to talk about the student's concerns. Baker even offered to help process the transfer request.

Several of Baker's students told their neighbor, Brian Tarrant, a 40-year-old former Navy SEAL with 13 years of service, about the lesson.

The Bloomington man said Baker has the right to do it and she's a good teacher, but he disapproves of a teacher using a flag for such a lesson.

"I do know she's a good teacher," said Tarrant, who also has been a teacher. "The students respect her, and she makes them laugh."

Still, the lesson went too far in his opinion.

"It hurt me," he said. "That's my flag she's dragging - not the government's. When I die, I get buried, and the flag covers me."

He said he will ask for the flag so the American Legion can decommission it.

Tarrant said he would like Baker to finish the lesson by teaching students about how a flag no longer fit for display is properly decommissioned. He would like the same students to see a ceremony in which that flag is retired with dignity and taps is played.

"The flag represents the people, not the government," he said. "We (combat soldiers) are out there for the people. We're out there for the flag."

Tarrant said he may organize a protest Monday at the school if the flag isn't disposed of properly.

Some students said they were afraid to speak up about Baker's use of the flag because they like her and didn't want to get her in trouble, Tarrant said.

Amy Schultz of Bloomington is one of them.

"She (Baker) is very open-minded," Schultz said. "She talks about certain things so the topic will stay in your head."

Baker did not use the flag in Schultz's class, and Schultz said she was glad of that.

"It's not right to actually use a flag," Schultz said, suggesting the lesson could have been taught another way.

Baker has been a social studies teacher at NCHS for five years. She recently was among a team of graduate students and two Illinois State University professors who went to Mexico to monitor elections earlier this year.

Tammy Powell, Michael's mother, said she met with NCHS Assistant Principal Michael Gourley on Friday to discuss their concerns. He took the mother and son to Baker's classroom and showed them the flag.

"He (Michael Powell) goes to a good school," Tammy Powell said. She said she moved to her present home specifically so he could attend NCHS.

"This is not what I pay taxes for," she said.