That’s right… three jr. high school students have been suspended for one day because they made a choice to not stand for the pledge of allegiance. As individuals they have a right to decisions, a right to choices and a right not to stand for the pledge of allegiance – yet the school’s student handbook requires all students to stand. These students and all individuals should not be forced to ever take a pledge or merely mimic the motions – that defies the purpose of a pledge.
These students were suspended for independent thought, challenging the status quo, and thinking freely as all people should. It’s truly sad.
Full Star Tribune story here.
It’s about time children were taught a basic modicum of respect for this nation!
The students were punished for violating school policy, not for refusing to take the pledge of allegiance. The rules state that everyone must stand, but that they do not need to take the pledge.
It has nothing to do with respect of the nation. And the school’s rule violates ones right to freedom of choice. There is no reason for such a rule. No one should be forced to stand and take a pledge or to mimic the actions there of.
It is perfectly legitimate to require that the students stand during the pledge of allegiance. It would NOT be legitimate, appropriate or respectful even to require them to either take or mimic taking the pledge – something the school district’s rules do not do.
Forcing them to stand is forced conformity – a mimic of something that should be done completely voluntarily. The school rule is simply wrong; it is disrespectful to the freedom of choice and is discriminatory to those who do not wish to partake.