FOLSOM, Calif. – A California school is warning students that chanting “USA!” could be send an “unintended message,” though many students and parents disagree.

Staff at Vista Del Lago High School in Folsom recently warned students during a leadership class against chanting “USA” at school sporting events because it could be construed by some as inappropriate or intolerant, CBS Sacramento reports.

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District officials told the news site they did not impose a ban on chanting USA, but want students to limit their patriotism to “appropriate” times, such as after the national anthem or Pledge of Allegiance.

Folsom Cordova Unified Communications Director Daniel Thigpen said officials made the request in an effort to “practice empathy, to practice kindness and to practice patriotism.

“You can do both,” he said.

The notice came after the California Interscholastic Federation – the agency that oversees high school sports – alleged the USA chants were used in some places to taunt opponents with minority players.

“Last September, the Ottawa-Kent Conference in West Michigan restricted school sports fans to only chanting “USA” before or after the national anthem, after some fans used the chant to taunt opposing players during game play,” according to The Washington Times.

The warning also follows President Donald Trump’s decision to phase out the illegal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program created by former President Obama, which grants exemptions for deportation for many students across the country, particularly in California.

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School officials sent an email to parents Wednesday to clarify their request to refrain from chanting US is not a blanket ban, and reiterated the message on the school’s intercom.

“We can communicate an unintended message” with the chants, officials told students.

“There’s a time and a place to yell that and cheer that,” CIF Commissioner Mike Garrison told the news site.

Many students and parents, however, believe that it’s never inappropriate to show patriotism for America.

“I wasn’t angry, but I was definitely like ‘Why can’t we chant USA?’” senior Ryan Bernal said. “To say USA, you know, we’re all the same. We’re all American. It doesn’t matter what your skin tone is or where you’re from.”

“We’re all one,” he said. “We all stand as one together.”

Parent Natalie Woodbury agreed that the USA chants are a positive thing.

“I want to chant USA because I want us to pull together and help, not because I want anybody to feel left out or not a part of our country,” she said.

CBS Sacramento notes that the warning against chanting USA comes just days before the school’s planned USA-themed football game on Friday.

“I’m glad that they will still allow our students to cheer for our country,” parent Cody Santero said.  “I think it’s really sad that chanting USA in our country has even become a negative thing.”