He has a doctorate in higher education and a master's degree in educational psychology. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. As per the United States Flag Code, the pledge is to be recited by standing at attention; facing the American flag and placing the right hand over the heart. Moreover, they believe that religion and Government should be kept at arm’s length. Id. The recitation of the Pledge before sports events and council meetings has also been seen to stir up numerous controversies. Moreover, Deists believe in a God who created the universe, brought it together and then left. Eisenhower.) § 49-6-1001(c)(1) (2005). Anyone who chooses not to participate may do so, and express his non-participation in any way he chooses, so long as it is nondisruptive and does not infringe on the rights of others. This came about due to the actions of a man by the name of Louis Bowman, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, who argued it should be included because of Abraham Lincoln's usage of the phrase in the Gettysburg Address. Neither public nor private school students must recite the Pledge if they do not want to. 21 of Wheeling Tp., 980 F.2d 437 (7th Cir. If a student does not wish to participate, he may opt out via a written request from his or her parent or guardian. Alaska Stat. Students are "authorized" to recite the Pledge at the beginning of each school day. If a student does not wish to recite the Pledge, he need not do so, upon submission of a written request from his parent or guardian. 1969). Ohio Rev. Kan. Stat. At what I'm sure was a delightful event called the National Flag Conference it was agreed that the statement 'my Flag' should be changed to specifically state 'the Flag of the United States'. It is sad to see how Americans fail to see the Pledge of Allegiance, as a sign of patriotism to their very own country! Law § 802 (2005). Minn. Stat. Nevada Reed v. Van Hoven, 237 F.Supp. Virginia He argued that his child should not be forced to say the Pledge with the phrase ‘under God’. For primary schools, these exercises are to take place at the beginning of the first class period at which a majority of students begin the school day. Students may not be penalized for non-participation. Randall Curren, University of Rochester, Charles Dorn, Bowdoin College. The original version was short and to the point, stating: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'. Alaska §10-230(c) (2005). They believe God is not around anymore, therefore, the phrase ‘under God’ is not applicable to them as well. However, it is not a compulsion and those who do not wish to recite it, need not do so. So, an innocent little diddy written to help sell some flags and magazines has since become an issue of civil liberties. §1002.20(12) (2005) (reiterating the right of students not to participate in the recitation of the Pledge). Reciting the Pledge in school is not a compulsion, however, people of different schools of thought still seem to have a problem with it. All public school students are required to learn the Pledge, and it shall be said in every classroom in which there is an American flag, at a time of the school board's choosing.