Can schools force you to stand for the pledge?

Do public school students have to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? No. Public school students can opt out of saying the pledge (in some states, only with permission from a parent). The First Amendment protects the right not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Can students refuse to say the pledge?

The Supreme Court resolved this issue 80 years ago in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. The Court held that requiring public school students to pledge allegiance to the flag violates their First Amendment right against compelled speech.

Is it illegal to not stand during the pledge?

You are allowed to visibly protest – sit down, kneel, raise your fist – as long as you don't prevent other students from participating. Any kind of pressure from teachers or administrators to participate, even if not strictly punishment, can be a violation of your rights and possibly illegal.

Do I have to stop walking for the pledge?

Students should, under no circumstances, be punished or shamed for utilizing their right to stay silent during the Pledge, and as long as they aren't interrupting anyone, they should be allowed to walk during it, too.

Can you make people stand for the pledge?

Students should not feel obligated to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The First Amendment guarantees the right to free speech, which means students can't be forced to stand if they don't want to.

This teacher forced a student to say the Pledge of Allegiance

Is it illegal to not stand for the pledge in Texas?

In Texas, state law requires students to pledge allegiance daily to the flags of the United States and of the Lone Star State.

Do teachers have to stand for the pledge?

The Supreme Court ruling was that no one can be compelled to make a forced confession of allegiance to the country, and that would also apply to teachers. Frequently the Pledge is read over the school speakers, or even the school TV system.

What happens if you don't fulfill a pledge?

A legally binding pledge that isn't satisfied by a donor during lifetime is treated as a debt of the donor's estate and is deductible by the estate as a debt—not as a charitable contribution if: (1) the amount of the unfulfilled pledge is paid to charity; (2) an estate tax charitable deduction would have been allowed ...

Why do some students not stand for the pledge?

Some students dislike current events occurring in the United States such as racism, homophobia, and sexism, and not standing for the pledge as a way to silently protest. As students, acceptable forms of protest are limited. But, being silent is both an acceptable and a powerful form of protest.

Why do some people not say the pledge?

Atheists and polytheists (those who believe in multiple gods) object to the “under God” part of the pledge, as they don't recognize one god. Also, some Christian sects like Jehovah's Witnesses cannot pledge their allegiance to anything besides God, and thus do not say the pledge.

Can a school punish you for not standing for the pledge?

No. Public school students can opt out of saying the pledge (in some states, only with permission from a parent). The First Amendment protects the right not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Can teachers force you to do work?

A teacher can't force you to do anything in a classroom. Your actions may result in the instructor removing you from the class or punishing you for your refusal, but the teacher, school and district don't have the authority to make you do something you don't want to do.

Does under God violate the First Amendment?

Accordingly, government policy encouraging public school students to avow via the Pledge that ours is a nation dependent on or ruled by God, likewise contravenes the First Amendment.

Is under God in the pledge constitutional?

Having “Under God” in the Pledge in no ways establishes Christianity or any religion as the official religion of the United States. Thus there is no conflict with the First Amendment, as the Supreme Court has opined. The Constitution doesn't raise the subject of religion to dismiss it.

How many states have state pledges?

Less well known are the pledges US states have created to their own flags, seventeen in all. With the exception of Florida, all eleven states that seceded during the US Civil War have flag pledges — though all of these were adopted far later, from 1933 (Texas) to 2007 (North Carolina).

Is it true or false students Cannot be forced to pledge allegiance to the flag?

By Supreme Court ruling, students are not forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance. They can opt out.

Is it disrespectful to not stand for the national anthem?

Among veterans, more than six in ten, 61%, say it is offensive not to stand for the anthem. Among those who are not veterans, there is a divide. 48% consider the protest disrespectful while 47% say it is an expression of the freedoms the song represents.

Why was under God added to the pledge?

The words of the Pledge of Allegiance are familiar to almost every American. Yet few realize that its wording differs from its original version, penned in 1892. Congress added “under God" in 1954, at a time when the United States wanted to distinguish itself from godless communist countries. Courtesy of PhotoDisc,Inc.

How legally binding is a pledge?

In order to determine whether the pledge is enforceable, attention needs to be paid to the particular language of the written instrument. If the charitable pledge is an enforceable contract, it is binding on the donor and, if the donor is an individual, the pledge is enforceable on the donor's estate.

Can you revoke a pledge?

Under this agreement, the donor pledges to make a series of payments to the charity. The donor retains the right to revoke her obligation to make future payments at any time, but once a payment becomes due, it is a binding obligation of the donor or the donor's estate.

Can a pledge be broken?

Most importantly, pledges can be broken. If you make a pledge to give $100 to your favorite charity, but then find yourself in tough financial times, you can always back out of that pledge. There's no legal obligation to uphold your end of the bargain. On the other hand, once you make a donation, it's final.

When was prayer removed from school?

In Engel v. Vitale (1962), the Supreme Court held that the Establishment Clause prohibited the recitation of a school-sponsored prayer in public schools.

Can teachers be excused from saluting the American flag?

Can teachers be excused from saluting the American flag? D) If their objections are based on either religion or conscience, teachers can refrain from saluting the flag as long as they make provisions for students to participate.

Is Texas the only state that has a pledge?

There are 17 states in the U.S. that have their own pledge to their state flag that is separate from the national pledge of allegiance.

Is the pledge a law?

1943: Supreme Court Upholds Establishment Clause

Barnette (1943), the Supreme Court ruled that requiring the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The case grew out of West Virginia's passage of legislation requiring the pledge and flag-saluting.