DGF reconsidering pledge policy
May 10, 2008
According to news reports, DGF schools are considering changing the phrase in the student handbook requiring all students to stand during the pledge. The policy “may need to be modified to address the protection of the individual form of expression” according to principal Colleen Houglum.
The policy sparked the in school suspension of four students at the Junior High School and prompted a letter from the MN ACLU. On Thursday three students were given in school suspension when Houglum observed the three students sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance. A fourth student then remained sitting during the pledge to protest the policy and was given the same in school suspension. The students mother then requested the son be sent home.
The district was also sent a letter from the MN ACLU advising that there was legal grounds for the students to excercise their “Freedom of Expression” by sitting. MN ACLU Executive Director Chuck Samuelson said he was “just shocked” to hear about the suspensions. “This just never happens because administrators know better.”
Minnesota secondary school principals attorney Roger Aronson advised Houglum that the requirement to make students stand may violate their first ammendment right.
Reciting the pledge in public schools is optional according to Minnesota law. Current policy at DGF schools requires students to stand, but they are not required to recite the pledge.
The mother of one of the students suspended on Thursday, said “The school is handling it very professionally,” and was advised that the suspension will not be part of the students’ permanent records.
Seventh-grade American history teacher Mari Dailey, said it was her impression that the students who sat down were not actively expressing their freedom of speech, but were being insubordinate.
“Schools are asked to teach character education and respect,” Dailey said. “I think this was an issue of respect, or lack thereof.”
The DGF school board will have the responsibility to consider modifying the pledge policy.
Got something to say?