I received some bad news this morning. I was told that one of the teachers from the English department had died on the weekend. This was a guy I had worked with for the past three years. I suggested that at the flag raising ceremony, which we have every morning at school, the flag be raised to half mast.

However, the director of the school forbid this. He thinks that a flag should only be lowered to half mast for royalty and leaders of a country. I disagree with this, but I do remember there was some royal protocol about the flag over Windsor castle not being lowered when Princess Dianna died.

It is, in my opinion, a mark of disrespect to not lower the flag at a school when a teacher dies.

I would like to know what you think. What is the proper protocol regarding a flag at half mast?