Since Oct. 21, 1882 schools all over America have recited The Pledge of Allegiance with students, teachers, and other staff. The history of the Pledge started with Francis Bellamy, an Baptist minster and author, who originally wrote the Pledge of Allegiance to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas.
The main site of celebration for Columbus’ voyage was in schools. According to an article from the National Museum of America History website, tens of thousands of children recited the Pledge all across the nation.
Originally, students were ordered to stand with hands at their side, facing the flag, and give the flag a military salute at the end of the Pledge. Then, students would declare, “One Country! One Language! One Flag!”. By 1942, U.S. schools stopped using the military salute in the Pledge due to it’s similarity to the fascist salute. It was in 1954 when the phrase “Under God” was added to the Pledge under the Eisenhower Administration during the anti-communist hysteria.
Over time, the recitation of the Pledge has led to controversy. On June 14, 1943, the U.S. Supreme Court held the case West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette.. Children from a family of Jehovah’s witness refused to stand for the Pledge because standing was against their religion. As consequence, the children were sent home for non-compliance and were later threatened with reform schools for criminally active children. The parents faced prosecution and fines for causing juvenile delinquency.
Ultimately, it was ruled that children in American schools cannot be forced to stand for the Pledge, because it violates First Amendment Rights of free speech.
This was not the only instance where schools have attempted to force children to stand for the Pledge. In February 2023, Arizona’s House of Representatives voted to require public school students to recite the pledge, but were quickly turned down due to it being unconstitutional.
Forty-six out of 50 states in the U.S require public schools to have the Pledge recited, giving students an opportunity to sit or stand. Schools in Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah ask for parents’ permission if a student wants to opt out of the Pledge. If schools do not put this requirement into place, they could be penalized.
As mentioned before, a reason students may choose to not participate in reciting the Pledge is due to religious purposes. For others, it could be a form of protest.
In a survey of 56 LSE students, it was said that another reason an individual may choose to sit because they believe that the current political climate in the U.S. doesn’t reflect the principles of “Liberty and Justice For All” within the Pledge.
Some Lincoln Southeast students shared that actively choosing to sit and not recite the Pledge could be considered disrespectful towards U.S. veterans. Those involved in the military risked their lives protecting the American flag we stand for, one response said. Students who have direct connections to the military through family members may be more likely to pay their respects by standing for the Pledge.
For some, choosing to stand for the Pledge may not have a complex reason for doing so. Many public school students were taught to stand in their first year of elementary school and beyond, so over time standing just became a habit.
A student’s choice to stand can also vary based on who else is standing in the class. If most students are not participating in the Pledge, students may feel uncomfortable standing. But, if majority of the class is standing, others will do the same.
The Pledge of Allegiance has been a long standing tradition that can be interpreted differently by all kinds of people based on their personal experiences and judgements.
