A Maryland public school teacher was punished after she ordered a student to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.
The incident occurred at Robert Clemente Middle School in Montgomery County, MD. As students rose to recite the Pledge the teacher noticed one child still seated. She asked her to stand and the student refused. Still defiant, the teacher sent her to the office. The following morning, the girl once again refused to stand. This time, the teacher called two school police officers to escort the girl to the office.
Well – that sparked outrage from the girl, her family and the Maryland chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. According to the ACLU, the girl was “so traumatized by her teacher’s humiliating and inappropriate reaction that she has not felt comfortable returning to school until the situation is addressed.”
The ACLU demanded an apology from the teacher. ACLU attorneys also demanded the teacher promise to respect the students rights in the future and discuss the incident with the class so it can become an educational opportunity.
“The law is crystal clear that a public school cannot embarrass or harass a student for maintaining a respectful silence during the Pledge of Allegiance,” ACLU attorney Ajmel Quereshi told the Washington Examiner.
Montgomery County school officials and the local teacher’s union have decided to back the ACLU and said the teacher violated district policy.
“It’s very clear that you can’t compel someone to take part in a patriotic act,” school spokesman Dana Tofig told the Examiner.
Todd Starnes is a reporter for FOX News Radio and a best-selling author. To purchase a copy of “They Popped My Hood and Found Gravy on the Dipstick,” click here.
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Shame on that student, shame on their family, shame on the ACLU for twisting the laws. I have lost all respect for the ACLU & would applaud it’s demise should it ever happen.
What happened to the student 1st amendment rights? You all diss her for practicing freedom of speech…and you call yourselves Patriots?? Please a Patriot realizes that the 1st amendment applies to all, especially those you don’t agree with!!!
I live in Carroll County,MD. which is a conservative county I don’t think you would see that here? Montgomery County I wasn’t suprised but sorry that is taught at home and school. The way kids are they won’t stand just because one person got away with it. The next then the next.
When I went to school the teachers would always embarrass you to make do something.It worked and I don’t blame them. Life embarrases you. Deal With it!!
In 1943, the Supreme Court ruled that public school students could not be forced to recite the pledge. Since then courts have ruled that students do not have to stand for the it either. Many may disagree with the law, but the correct action would be to move to change it; not disregard it. Personally, I would see that as an opportune time to discuss the pledge; that in most classrooms is recited for the sake of reciting & not with meaning behind it.
As much as I hate the ACLU….the kid does have Freedom of Speech…not just the speech we would like her to have…
This is AMERICA. If you don’t like it or don’t respect it, get out. Same goes for the ACLU. Our Founding Fathers are turning over in their graves. There is a difference between exercising your First Ammendment rights and being downright disrespectful. This student and this crazy liberal county was disrespectful to everything our country stands for.
This article is quick to say the teacher humiliated her, but it does not state why the two officers were requested. If the teacher had her escorted out while being quiet and peaceful, I could understand, but this smells of typical ACLU editing. I don’t agree with her not wanting to recite the pledge of allegiance, but her first ammendment right does offer her that privelege. Hopefully she changes her stance on patriotism because many kids don’t care these days. That is scary for the coming generation.
Students used to respect their teachers. Now they get the anti-Americans in the ACLU to make the teacher beg to be forgiven for doing their job. Being disobedient is not freedom of anything except the process of learning.
If the student did not want to stand for the pledge, than have her wait outside the classroom. If this is tought to the child at home, why are they still living in America?
“What happened to the student 1st amendment rights?” This should apply to only those who hold America above any other country. If you want to have your slice of pie, than earn it.
This is wrong on so many levels. If a child refuses to stand when a teacher requests it, then runs home to her parents to complain, there is something wrong with that family. The ACLU went too far but that is typical for them. What’s not (or should not be typical) are parents who support a child’s defiance of a teacher. No wonder public school sucks. Good luck recruiting adequate teachers. I would quit.
Do American conservative “patriots” know that the pledge was written by one of them, thar socialists – Francis Bellamy. Do they also know that the Founders had nothing to do with the Pledge and that it wasn’t incorporated into schools until the administration of Benjamin Harrison? Do they know that “under god” wasn’t part of the pledge until the Catholic Knights of Columbus lobbied for the change and congress enacted it in the early 50′s? Do they know that certain American religious groups, such as the Amish, don’t say the Pledge because it’s considered an oath and their religion proscribes against it? But yeah, let’s waterboard that treasonous kid. And remind me – how is saying the Pledge integral to the process of learning? And BTW, if the teabaggers don’t like the evil “socialist” government of this country, why don’t they get they leave? Works both ways, kiddos.
[...] this little 13 year old girl and her parents (and frankly anyone who supports them). According to Todd Starnes and Washington Examiner, a Maryland public school teacher was punished after she ordered a student [...]
from article -”The ACLU demanded an apology from the teacher. ACLU attorneys also demanded the teacher promise to respect the students rights in the future and discuss the incident with the class so it can become an educational opportunity.”
I fully support the girls First Amendment rights, but here is the discussion for the educational opportunity for the class, including the girl, at least a one week long discussion on the Revolutionary War and what all those brave individuals endured and gave up, including their lives, so that the girl could sit there and basically ignore the “Country” that the Founding Fathers and the Patriots fought and died to give her and us.
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Even if this girl chooses not to partisipate in the pledge, she should have the respect to stand. My big problem is with the teachers union. It is there resposability to support the teacher.
What the F?! What the hell is wrong with this country? If I did that when I was a kid my ass would still be red! The ACLU is a joke. The people in this country are turning into a bunch of gutless wimps. Props to the teacher! Tell that brat to get back into class, and respect your teacher, and your contry(what may be left of it)!
The Situation said”And BTW, if the teabaggers don’t like the evil “socialist” government of this country, why don’t they get they leave? Works both ways, kiddos.”
Attempt to or support the complete destruction of the basic premises of American government and then suggesting that those whose blood has been shed for this constitution leave?
Got news my lib friend.
My family have given our sons to this country since we came here, 5 generations worth. Our blood has sealed the purchase made by our founders. We are soldiers.
Shut up and sit down. OR be prepared to bide the issue.
The supreme court ruled over 50 years ago that students can NOT be compelled to recite the pledge. This was after Jehovah Witnesses whose religion forbids them to do this were violently harassed for following their religion. The school handbook clearly stated that students do not HAVE to participate in patriotic excercises. This teacher broke the school rules and the law of the land. It’s as simple as that. A FORCED pledge means nothing anyway. So why support a law breaking teacher who FORCES students to say things they obviously don’t mean ?
The first amendment protects this girls rights, just as much as it protects the rights of “tea partyers” to call our President Hitler.
If a student was wearing an anti-Obama T-shirt and a teacher ordered her to turn it inside out, you guys would not be supporting the teacher. You would be praising the student for her bravery.
Funny, how you all seem to think that the first amendment only applies to people you agree with.
I agree with those who say that if you don’t respect America and American values, you should get the h*ll out of this country.
I therefore demand that all of you condemning this little girl and supporting the teacher in this case evacuate the United States within the next 72 hours — we don’t need your sort of faux-patriot Constitution-haters around here.
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And you wonder why kids are so disrespectful nowadays? If I had shown such disrespect towards my teacher or my flag, my @ss would have been grass with my parents. NOBODY said she had to say the pledge-only that she stand-HUGE difference!
This is not a 1st amendment issue at all but a matter of basic respect for teachers. Your liberal faux-outrage is misguided as usual and your damnable political correctness is destroying common sense and decency. Idiots.
No, gobnait, you are wrong — especially since the school handbook contains a district policy that makes it clear that she does not have to participate in the observance in any way, including standing.
But then again, of course that is what the district policy says — state law in Maryland conforms to the Supreme Court’s 1943 ruling in West Virginia v. Barnette, which held that under the First Amendment schools and teachers cannot require or coerce that students to do so. Under long-settled American law, this is no different than a teacher insisting that the child stand up and sing the “mmmmm mmmmm mmmmm Barack Hussein Obama” song.
I’m just thinking it’s more about a child not obeying a teacher. If the teacher says stand the child must stand. She didn’t have to recite the pledge but should have obeyed the teacher by standing.
While the students are at school they must obey the teachers.
Freedom of speech has absolutely nothing to do with it. The child is a minor and has no rights.
Bobcat,
There are restrictions in place about what a teacher may or may not ask a student to do. The law is clear – a teacher may not coerce a child to recite or stand for the pledge.
You say a minor has no rights, and must obey the teachers – you have just made an argument for any type of child abuse in the school to be legal, and accepted by the child and their family. This is why laws exist that govern what teachers (and others in authority) may and may not do – to prevent people abusing their power over those who are vulnerable.
For all those people saying that the ACLU is unpatriotic for defending constitutional rights – you are not thinking straight.
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The advocates of waterboarding have yet to explain why they want to permit this. There is no evidence that torture produces useful information unobtainable by other interrogation methods. Without such justification, there can be no reason even to consider waterboarding, and certainly no reason to defend it.
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The law is crystal clear on this matter and I myself tested it out over a quarter of a century ago when in high school. It is a constitutional right that no citizen may be compelled to take part in any “patriotic” ceremony or pledge, providing that they do not interfere with anothers right to do so. The child did not interfere with anyone by merely sitting quietly and not taking part. Maybe the teacher should have brushed up on constitutional rights before making this call. Shame on the Teacher, Shame on the police officers for not knowing better, and Bravo to the school board for backing the girl. This country is great because we have the RIGHT to not be a lemming.
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[...] trick: Take the hot button … gobnait – January 8th, 2010 at 2:46 am. Dowd and Rich are bitter, …Todd Starnes Patriotic Teacher PunishedNo, gobnait, you are wrong especially since the school handbook … Name (required) Mail (will not [...]
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