Education

PA School District Drops Disciplinary Action Against Girl Who Refused to Stand for the Pledge

Brownsville, PA School Drops Disciplinary Action Against Girl Who Refused to Stand for Pledge After ACLU Lawsuit

Students recite the pledge of allegiance

Pennsylvania’s Brownsville Area School District has capitulated to the ACLU after being sued for disciplining a 13-year old girl who, according to reports, steadfastly refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance.

The New York Daily News elaborates:

The eighth-grade girl wasn’t looking for controversy when she stopped standing for the pledge, said her mother, Carolyn Raja. Far from it.

“She‘s actually very introverted and doesn’t like to be the center of attention,” said Ms. Raja, a jewelry maker whose family recently moved to the Fayette County borough of Brownsville. “She is just concerned with the state of the country today.”

According to the complaint, the girl referred to in the lawsuit only by the initials N.B. sat through the pledge without incident for most of the year, until April 17, when teacher Jessica VanMeter took exception to it. The teacher “admonished” the student “with references to her disrespect for all the soldiers dying for her overseas,” the complaint said.

The student didn’t back down, and she was subjected to steadily escalating discipline, including lunch detention and in-school suspensions.

Ms. Raja’s entreaties to middle school Principal Vincent Nesser, Superintendent Phillip Savini and the school board didn’t end the discipline, according to the complaint. Nor did several warnings from the ACLU.

The lawsuit, apparently, has changed things.

According to a school representative, school officials may not be happy about the conclusion, but they must abide by what the Supreme Court determined nearly 70 years ago that “no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.”

This has been interpreted to mean that no one can force an individual to, for instance, stand for the pledge of allegiance.

“The student is in school today and chose not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance,” related James Davis, the district’s solicitor.  She was not disciplined for the decision and, he explained, has a “constitutionally protected right” to remain seated.

“Not everyone is happy with your decision not to move forward, frankly, with any discipline in this case, Fox’s Alisyn Camerota noted.

“What message does that send to other students about respecting our country?”

Comments (86)

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  • SickandTiredAmerican
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 2:04am

    Here again, another great topic. I would normally be wary of anything called “The Pledge of Allegiance”. Think about it. But in this case we are not pledge ourselves to a person or to a certain regime. Our pledge says the following:
    I pledge allegiance to the symbol of my country and the system of government we the people have created. That we are a united country of individuals, under the belief of our creator, which can never be divided against each other, with the guiding principles of liberty and honorable justice for every citizen.

    Is that not what the founding fathers said when they pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to each other in forming our republic?

    Report Post » SickandTiredAmerican  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 7:50am

      Exactly and all the flag burners and anti-americans need to be removed as citizens or opted out on their own. Removing them as citizens removes all the benefits that being a citizen provides,as well as removes their right to vote as well.

      Report Post »  
    • pavnvet
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 11:15am

      This, or any 13 year old,that behaves this way doesn’t understand (and probably was not taught) what respect means. Yes, it is her right, but that right was paid for by everyone that has ever defended this country in peace or war. As a combat vet, the flag is the symbol I salute to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice, Hooray for the teacher and school for trying to teach a brat what it means to be an American…and piss on you ACLU.

      Report Post » pavnvet  
    • Hifi
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 2:23pm

      No, the founders pledged weren’t looking for monolithic conformity, that is what they had just freed themselves from. They were looking for freedom. Such as the kind where the government doesn’t tell you what to believe, what to say, or how to act.

      The majority opinion in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (which ruled that students may not be made to say the Pledge), written by Justice Robert Jackson, is one of the greatest statements in American constitutional law and history.
      He wrote, ‘If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.’”

      The founders would have agreed.

      Report Post »  
    • Hifi
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 2:25pm

      Pavnet, where do you people get this idea that the Pledge of Allegiance has anything to do with honoring soldiers and war? It was written to sell flags and indoctrinate socialist-style nationalism in little kids. Period. No dead soldiers.

      Report Post »  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 1:26am

    The pledge is an old school lie. The Republic does not exist. “Under God” is a slap in Gods face. The pledge is just a myth. New America is a socialist / soon to be communist state where slaves live and work. Ron Paul is perhaps our last best chance.
    Most of you have sold your soul to the devil in the WH. Enjoy the crumbs that fall from His table.

    Report Post »  
    • Obamammy
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:49pm

      You were starting to sound intelligent.

      Then you mentioned “Ron Retirement 2012 Paul”.

      Report Post » Obamammy  
  • MMSands
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 1:08am

    The idea of the United States of America, as well as the reality, is something the individual has to figure out/learn/experience for their own self. This girl’s parents are definitely remiss when it comes to having taught their child about respecting others, their elders, and their environment, or about in-depth learning of a subject before deciding to agree or disagree with it. The idea that a 13 year old is being taught that her judgment can and should take precedence over that of her teacher is appalling, but again, it reflects on the poor judgment of her parents and of the ACLU. There are ways to do things, and ways not to do them. Children can do many things. They should be listened to and heard. However, they don’t get to run the show — unless one really wants to live in that “Brave New World” we had a movie about in the 60′s. (Everyone was sent away to live the remainder of their “too old” lives taking LSD daily at “happy farms” on their 30th birthday — which was then lowered to the 18th birthday.)
    None for me, thanks.

    Report Post » MMSands  
    • FromSeaToSea
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 1:44am

      The girl honesty is impressive. She does not want to partake of hypocracy. Those who say the pledge are being trained to live in a vile dream. Take the current wars. This is not fighting for freedom. We are fighting for resources and buliying sovereign nations. Droning the innocent. It a dream world to kill people 1/2 a globe away from a computer terminal in the US and then head out for the weekend party. Your freedoms are a dream. Obama just had the first US citizen droned having never been charged with a crime. What did you do to protest? Nothing. Just keep the dream alive.
      TSA is here to protect us. Just keep the lie alive while you are assualted. What did you do to protest?
      Nothing. Enjoy your next rape I mena flight. Sorry. The new NDAA allows US soldiers to take you away indefinitely without a crime being commited. What have you done to protest? Zero. The new agro./food bill gives the gov. the right to tell you whether you can drink the milk from your cow. What have you done? Everyones afraid to defend freedom. Fear rules. Wheres the freedom in living in fear? There is no freedom. It’s just another part of the dream you project. Soon slavery will leave you with nothing but death. Thanks everyone for standing up and protesting the lie. If the land was a true Republlic, I believe this girl would gladly pledge.

      Report Post »  
  • txjb
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 12:36am

    This girl is 13 yr. old ! do you think this was her idea ? It was probably her commie parents that put her up to it . Child , you will have no allegiance to that flag , because it represents the U.S.A.

    Report Post »  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:33am

      Exactly.

      How many hundreds of thousands of dollars of someone’s hard-earned money has been expended because of children who are (quite naturally) testing their independence.

      While I believe that they should be free to state their opinion (and it would seem appropriate to listen to it politely ONCE), they are children. This idiotic business is symptomatic of misguided over-indulgence, reinforced by TV programs aimed at their age group.

      It is a normal part of growing up, not a serious, money-consuming legal arguement.

      Report Post »  
  • sacwoodpusher
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 12:24am

    Forcing anyone to stand for or say the pledge of allegience is wrong. Listen…..freedom of speech and freedom from coercian are American rights.

    All you small minded idiots out there who think otherwise……..stuff it.

    Signed….An American Redneck with a Masters Degree ……

    Report Post »  
  • wifezilla
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 12:00am

    “From its inception, in 1892, the Pledge has been a slavish ritual of devotion to the state, wholly inappropriate for a free people. It was written by Francis Bellamy, a Christian Socialist pushed out of his post as a Baptist minister for delivering pulpit-pounding sermons on such topics as “Jesus the Socialist.“ ”
    http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/whats-conservative-about-pledge-allegiance

    Report Post » wifezilla  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 11:48pm

    With children, one needs to pick & choose one’s battles. Sometimes it is best to ignore a defiant child, as long as that child is not disturbing others. If the defiance spreads to other children, we, as the adult may have to lead by good example. If they all choose to sit, they must be told to do so quietly, while you recite the Pledge of Allegiance alone. We must be the small, quiet voice that may be remembered in their later years as an inspiration to follow their faith & stand for their beliefs, alone if necessary, no matter the consequences.
    I wasn’t there, but, in my opinion, she should have been ignored.

    Report Post »  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:36am

      “With children, one needs to pick & choose one’s battles.”

      Lol. You’re right. As a father of two small children, I have been learning that the hard way!

      Report Post »  
  • ALL4FREEDOM
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:02pm

    For someone who doesn’t like to be the center of attention, you can’t beat remaining seated when everyone else is standing. Be that as it may, disciplinary action certainly isn’t warranted for this sort of thing. No. Better to simply explain to everyone, in the nicest sort of way, just how rude and inconsiderate the miserable little b!tch is. Use it as a teaching moment. Isn’t that what school is for?

    Report Post »  
    • guntotinsquaw
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:30pm

      So let me understand, a child chooses to exercise her God given CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. So a tax paid twit decided to bully this child, and you think this is OK? I believe a tax paid twit in the White House has been bullying us for over 3 years, and we aren’t backing down.

      Report Post » guntotinsquaw  
    • ALL4FREEDOM
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 1:54am

      Ah, yes, the never popular demand for rights. What is too often forgotten is the corresponding responsibility that accompanies each right (and privilege). In this case, as usual, good manners (no longer taught) got tossed, and everyone lost. In First Amendment conflicts such as this, one garners no respect for their opinion by witholding respect for the rights and opinions of others. If this girl had ever been taught good manners, she would have known that the proper course of action would have been to stand but remain silent if she chose not to recite the pledge. Instead, she remained seated, which was rude, and drew unwanted attention to herself. Sadly, the teacher evidently had never been taught good manners, either, and did not know how to properly instruct her. The whole educational system is rotten, because the practitioners are all products of their own defective process.

      Report Post »  
  • vernwvu
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:23pm

    What I find interesting is that they say she is unhappy with the state of the country, but no specifics. How do we know she is not upset with the welfare state, or progressives, or perhaps the socialist in congress? I know this is probably not the case, but would this be different from inverting the flag to signal the country is in distress?

    Report Post »  
  • txjb
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 8:43pm

    Those of you that don’t care for the pledge are all obama voters and socialist .

    Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:56pm

      Actually, the “Pledge of Allegiance” is a socialist concoction from the 1800′s created by Francis Bellamy. He was a self described Christian Socialist and a fan of Karl Marx. Furthermore, making children take an oath of any kind is dishonest and disturbing. It is all propaganda. And just so you know, I spent 5 years of my life on active duty after having taken an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States. I take oaths and pledges very seriously. No child should ever be allowed to commit themselves to a cause because they are unable to comprehend the seriousness of what they are doing. Now, if you want to have a conversation about how maybe every American who wants to vote should have to take some pledge of allegiance, then we can have that discussion. But please remember that the pledge of allegiance is a socialist invention.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 11:55pm

      @ SGTB:
      You’re just gonna confuse them with flat facts like that.

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • txjb
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 12:15am

      sgtb , you are a true commie !! obama supporter , occupier and my enemy . I will not argue with you , I cannot stand people like you and one day , soon , it’s going to come to a head , either true Americans will be in control or the likes of you . I know for a fact you support Bill Ayres too , where did you people come from ? What happened to all of you along the way ?

      Report Post »  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 10:10am

      @SGTB, Thank you for your post! When I first read it I thought: “This can’t be true!” Then I decided to research it. My old encyclopedias from the 1960‘s and ’70′s mentioned Francis Bellamy, but they never said that he was a Socialist. Then I thought that perhaps people were confusing Francis with Edward Bellamy who was most definitely a Socialist. Then I ran across on the internet that Francis Bellamy was a “Christian Socialist” (a term I never heard of before).

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Socialism

      All in all, I think you are correct, and it makes sense – sadly :( The good part is that at least Francis Bellamy had the “Republic” part correct. (maybe he goofed!) Also thanks to Eisenhower, the “under God” part was added to it.

      Schools are now making kids take pledges to Social Justice and Environmentalism. (A good way to instill guilt.) Parents need to discuss this with their children, so that the kids are not caught off-guard when they encounter it.

      Thanks again! I learned something new today! I will continue to research Francis Bellamy because accepting this to be true is difficult to believe. However, facts are facts whether we like them or not.

      Report Post » Tigress1  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 12:35pm

      @Tigress1
      [Also thanks to Eisenhower, the “under God” part was added to it.]
      Eisenhower was a Progressive and progressives have no problem turning Government into a place of worship. The more intertwined your religion and government becomes, the more submissive you will be.

      Report Post » Pontiac  
  • MrObvious
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 8:18pm

    Much adieu about nothing. She sat through the pledge.
    The school overreacted, then backed down.
    In ACLU terms this case was non-controversial.

    Report Post »  
  • Chet Hempstead
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:48pm

    Why do we pledge allegiance to the flag, anyway? What if you love the country but don’t like the flag? Maybe you think the founding fathers missed the boat in adopting the color scheme and design elements of the flags of the European countries that colonized America. Maybe you think they should have come up with a completely new and distinctly American design like the Gadsden flag or some of the state flags. Okay, I get that it’s too late to change it and you’re never going to win over a majority of your fellow citizens, but that doesn’t mean that just not liking the flag makes you un-American, so why should anyone have to pledge allegiance to it, or even feign respect for the idea of pledging allegiance to it?

    Report Post »  
    • jungle J
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 8:52pm

      babble on……….

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:10pm

      The Words are… “… and to the Republic for which it Stands…”! What is it that you Support?

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 1:07am

      lukerw
      So why not just pledge allegiance to the republic, and leave the flag out of it? If you get confirmed do you say “I believe in the banner of my sect, and in God, the father almighty/” If you join the army do you swear to “support and defend the seal of the United States Army, and the Constitution of the United States?” When you get married do you promise to love, honor, and cherish the coat of arms of your wife’s family, and her too by the way?

      Report Post »  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 10:46am

      The flag is the SYMBOL of our country. You aren’t pledging to a piece of fabric with stars and stripes. You are pledging allegiance to what America represents to the world which is freedom. The flag merely gives a tangible object to something that is intangible.

      Report Post » Tigress1  
    • All American American
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 11:27am

      “America represents freedom?????”

      Freedom to

      - buy raw milk if you want? No
      - practice your religion without fear of govt intervention? No
      - take a bottle of water on a plane? No
      - get on a bus in Houston without being searched? No
      - build on your own land? No

      “We‘re fightin’ for freedom!!!!” You say, but can you tell me, overall, are we more or less free now than we were on 9/10/01?

      Report Post » All American American  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 11:47am

      @All American American, we are most definitely LESS free than we were on 09/10/01. We have strayed from our values in exchange for security. We didn’t understand that security is linked to dependence. Dependence is not freedom, which is why we signed the Declaration of INDEPENDENCE. I still believe that the Pledge of Allegiance is still to the symbol of the ideal of freedom. Just because we strayed from that ideal, that doesn’t mean that we no longer believe in it, and that we cannot RETURN to it.

      Report Post » Tigress1  
  • sarahliquid
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:39pm

    Although not for the same reason, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not say the pledge, based on our only giving our allegiance to God and no one else. We fought the matter in the supreme court and in 1943 they legally established this freedom of conscience issue. How teachers could be ignorant of this right of the students is astounding.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:48pm

      With about 195 Nations in the World… and with Our Educational System funded by the Tax Payer and paid thereby… surely a token of Thank You & Respect would to give Honor! Of course if one has no Honor… there is nothing to give back!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • Donttredonme
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:31pm

    The pledge is b.s and unamerican…

    Report Post » Donttredonme  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:03pm

      Your Opinion… seems less than Patriotic!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 11:51pm

      @LUKERW

      I think OWS has hijacked our flag…

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • cgnick
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 1:32am

      @DONTTREDONME
      Well said! A pledge in general should not be forced upon anyone, no matter what the pledge is for. It should be repeated by choice and choice only. Forcing someone to repeat a written bunch of words that they truly do not believe in is indoctrination.

      @LUKERW
      Your opinion makes you sound like a plastic patriot. Someone who truly thinks that they can pigeonhole everyone else into your own definition of patriotism and freedom.

      Report Post »  
  • Individualism
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:20pm

    I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Socialist States of America, until the republic for which it stands one nation under fascism, with tyranny and no rights for all, unless we go back to the constitution. that girl probably knows that our country is not what is was suppose to be and she will refuse to salute a goverment ran by criminals.

    Report Post » Individualism  
  • DogTags
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:12pm

    The original purpose of schools was to turn out patriots. Schools must create in children an attachment for their country and to instill in them the values needed for self-government. That is why our Founders insisted religious instruction be given in schools. Now, instead of virtuous patriots schools churn out amoral narcissists.

    Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:59pm

      Or… maybe you could just instill the values and disciplines in your own children that you want them to impart upon the world and stop trying to use social engineering tactics like the eugenics and prohibition movements.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • RonPaulie
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:58pm

    I love living in America any time the pledge is recited I gladly join in and that’s my choice. However, this girl also has every right not to say the pledge if she doesn’t want to. The government, in this case the school, has no right to force ANYONE to say ANYTHING. From what I can tell from this story this girl did exactly what she should have done, she didn‘t want to say the pledge so she sat there she wasn’t disruptive she just sat and waited until it was over.

    Report Post »  
  • proliance
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:55pm

    Constitutional rights are like muscle. If you don’t exercise them, you will lose them.

    This young lady is exercising her rights. Although I disagree with her I won’t condemn her for it.

    Report Post » proliance  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:06pm

      If you are an A$$… there is No Published Right to force your Peers to Like nor Accept You!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • Neils60
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:37pm

    Sadly, it’s no longer a rarity for students not to stand for and/or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. (Personally, I can’t understand their refusal, as I consider living in America a privilege. The Pledge merely reinforces that special privilege, at least for me.) But, most school systems don’t initiate consequences for non participation. However, if a student is disruptive during the time set aside for the Pledge to be recited, that’s when a student could be subjected to disciplinary measures. (Just as they would be for any type of inappropriate behavior.)

    Report Post »  
  • ilovetheusa1
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:24pm

    if the little foreigner can’t stand being the center of attention, let her stand alone in a desert. If you can’t love this country, go back to your sand paradise.

    Report Post »  
    • giopa2
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:22pm

      You can go back to Nazi Germany where you belong.

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:05pm

      The pledge of allegiance was created by a christian socialist to indoctrinate school children into his own marxist views of government before the rights of the citizen. I’ve taken an oath to defend the Constitution and I spent my childhood reciting the pledge, but I’ve got to tell you, the daily pledge means nothing and is a socialist tool of social engineering. It should die out and be replaced with an hour of class time each day wherein the children learn the Constitution and read about our founding fathers and the competing forms of governance that were around at the time and why we have fought so hard against them. That would be far more fruitful and less idiotic brainwashing.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:48pm

      SGTB: “In Frances Bellamy’s recollection of the creation of the Pledge, he recalled “At the beginning of the nineties patriotism and national feeling was at a low ebb. The patriotic ardor of the Civil War was an old story…The time was ripe for a reawakening of simple Americanism and the leaders in the new movement rightly felt that patriotic education should begin in the public schools.“ ”James Upham “felt that a flag should be on every schoolhouse”. “so that every school in the land…would have a flag raising, under the most impressive conditions”. “Bellamy was placed in charge of this operation and was soon lobbying ”not only the superintendents of education in all the States, but also worked with governors, Congressmen, and even the President of the United States.”
      The Pledge of Allegiance
      A Short History
      by Dr. John W. Baer

      Report Post »  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 11:06pm

      SGTB: You got my curiosity going big time on your comment. I had to check for myself. You are correct about the writer of the Pledge being a socialist.

      “What follows is Bellamy’s own account of some of the thoughts that went through his mind in August, 1892, as he picked the words of his Pledge:
      It began as an intensive communing with salient points of our national history, from the Declaration of Independence onwards; with the makings of the Constitution…with the meaning of the Civil War; with the aspiration of the people…
      The true reason for allegiance to the Flag is the ‘republic for which it stands.’ …And what does that vast thing, the Republic mean? It is the concise political word for the Nation – the One Nation which the Civil War was fought to prove. To make that One Nation idea clear, we must specify that it is indivisible, as Webster and Lincoln used to repeat in their great speeches. And its future?
      Just here arose the temptation of the historic slogan of the French Revolution which meant so much to Jefferson and his friends, ‘Liberty, equality, fraternity.’ No, that would be too fanciful, too many thousands of years off in realization. But we as a nation do stand square on the doctrine of liberty and justice for all…”
      The Pledge of Allegiance
      A Short History
      by Dr. John W. Baer

      Report Post »  
  • piper60
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:10pm

    The student should have been disciplined. The ACLU has no business butting in.

    Report Post » piper60  
    • giopa2
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:24pm

      Maybe she should have been lectured about it being impolite to sit however she had no right to be disciplined she was well within her Constitutional rights to remain silent and she had courage of her convictions.

      Report Post »  
    • Donttredonme
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:28pm

      Yeah because a goverment that foces children to recite pledges is oh so American and in no way reminds me of the Commies…

      Report Post » Donttredonme  
    • sacwoodpusher
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 1:22am

      A government paid twit (teacher) has no right to force a student to stand for the pledge. I listened to one of those twits brag about how he had made it so difficult for a Jehovah’s Witness child because he had been told not to recite the pledge. That twit was an arrogant oppressive beast, a small minded idiot, and my father in law.

      My wife WAS rescued!

      Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:06pm

    The teacher was wrong and if the school did not correct it right away and it took a lawsuit to rectify the situation, then the school was wrong.

    Don’t get me wrong I think you should stand, but you don’t necessarily have to say the words or ask to be excused prior to the pledge. Not everyone is a citizen and should not be required to pledge allegiance to a flag that is not their nationality. Having said this, if you are in America, I would think your intent is to become a citizen and your allegiance should be towards the U.S.

    She is a kid, she is confused on what is right and wrong. Give her a break.

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • BrownWaterVet
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:32pm

      You are right COFEMALE, not everyone here is a citizen of this country. Many, many are illegal aliens (oops, is that now a racist statement?). At a college hockey game a few years back, a man stayed seated with his hat on during the National Anthem. He was sitting right in front of me. He exercised his right not to show respect to this country. I exercised my 1st Ammendment right & told him how I felt. He decided to leave.

      Semper Fortis

      Report Post »  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 6:51am

      When I was in America and was once present when the national anthem was played, I stood out of respect.

      When overseas dignataries come to my country, they also stand up for the national anthem out of courtesy and respect.

      It disturbs me that so many of your citizens are disrespectful to their own country, and not only are not criticised for it, but on occasion are actually applauded.

      Report Post »  
  • brother_ed
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:06pm

    I must agree with the court.

    You have a right to sit silently and not participate.

    At least she wasn‘t doing the whole ’mic check’ thing.

    Authority corrupts, this teacher was way out of line.

    Report Post » brother_ed  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:04pm

    The child has already been damaged enough by her parents. There is no sense for the school continuing the damage. My point is, she has a better chance of coming around once away from her parents as a young adult.

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 5:54pm

    For the FEW who choose to disrespect this country they should simply leave the room……….and keep walking as far as I am concerned.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:24pm

      YUP! You don‘t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…..

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • jeanr
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:40pm

      Why do kids have to pledge allegiance every day? It seems once you do it once, you are locked in. My spouse and I don’t go to church everyday to renew our vows but we are still just as married because we pledged ourselves to each other that one time!

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