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School sends home permission slips for Pledge of Allegiance

Updated: Wednesday, 22 Dec 2010, 10:10 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 22 Dec 2010, 6:40 AM EST

BROOKLINE (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - A Brookline school is now saying permission slips won’t be necessary for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Beginning next month, all students at the Devotion School will say the Pledge over the school's intercom. The school's principal initially said the permission slips will encourage parents to have a discussion with their kids about the Pledge.

The Brookline superintendent says while it may seem extreme, it's necessary. It is state law to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day, but courts have ruled students have the right not to participate.

This is the original letter sent to parents earlier this week:

Dear Devotion Families,

Many of you are aware that Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 69, requires a flag to be displayed in each school classroom. This law also requires classes to be lead in a group recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Public Schools of Brookline policy provides that this recitation may take place weekly.

Additionally, as part of that Massachusetts History/Social Science frameworks and the Brookline Learning Expectations (BLE) there is a learning objective that students be able to "Demonstrate understanding that there are important American symbols by identifying ... the words of the Pledge of Allegiance."

In order to meet the state legal mandate for public schools and to support our learning expectations, I will, once a week, as part of my morning announcements, recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Classroom teachers, as with any announcement, will bring the class to silence. Students and teachers may choose to stand and recite the pledge but are not legally required to do so.

Under our Constitution, neither teachers nor students can be mandated to participate in this exercise. This is each person's personal choice. I urge you to have a conversation as a family to help your children understand why I will be reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and to support them in feeling comfortable and confident in the decision on whether or not to participate.

Whatever decision you and your child make will be fully respected. Please fill out the section below and return to your child's homeroom teacher. I anticipate that we will begin recitation of the Pledge after the New Year.

On a personal note, I am proud to be a first generation Cuban American and I appreciate the opportunities my family has found in our great nation.

Quoted from bumblethru

It would be interesting to hear the reasoning behind a student/parent NOT wanting to recite the pledge.

Quoted from bumblethru

It would be interesting to hear the reasoning behind a student/parent NOT wanting to recite the pledge.

Quoted from Sombody

One reason can be found in the ' forum for Ayn Rand ' -The Pledge expresses a nationalistic and collectivist sentiment (fascism 101) and shame on a liberty loving person for saying it. One Nation Indivisible .... The Jehova's Witnesses refuse to say the Pledge because it is heathen idolatry.

One Nation Indivisible.....

Compare this to "Ein Volk!, Ein Bluet!, Ein Reich!" -- said by a zillion people at Munich led by You Know Who.

Sieg Heil anyone?

Quoted from Kevin March

When I say the pledge, I personally don't say the exact words you split out, "one nation, indivisible," because these are actually incorrect.  The rest of the pledge, I agree with.

Quoted from Sombody

Exactly- any rational allegiance MUST BE CHOSEN BY ADULTS- NOT   children memorizing and "pledging themselves," in a ritualized manner, to a statement they can not fully understand-

Quoted from CICERO

We're talking about public school.  Most kids don't even know what the definition of allegiance is.  Kids now have an I-Pod plugged into their heads 24/7 listening to Lady Gaga in repetition tell them how liberating it is for young ladies to act like a slut, now that - they fully understand.