Elmira school district responds to student claims in Pledge case

[rug]

2:06 PM, May 28, 2014
Written by Bob Jamieson

The Elmira school district said it will look into a Southside High School student’s claims that she was coerced to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance at school and respond accordingly.

The American Humanist Association on Tuesday notified media about the case through an email. The Washington, D.C., group said it involved an unidentified sophomore who was an atheist and objected to saying the phrase “under God” in the Pledge. The association said the student attempted to sit during the Pledge, but her homeroom teacher instructed her to stand and told her in front of classmates she was being “disrespectful to America and to military personnel.”

The association emailed a three-page letter Tuesday addressed to Elmira Superintendent Hillary Austin and Southside Principal Christopher Krantz. District schools were closed Tuesday, extending their Memorial Day weekend by using an unused snow day. Austin, in an email, explained she was not in her office and late Tuesday night released the district’s response to the situation.

The response read:

“The District has received correspondence just this afternoon (Tuesday) concerning student participation in the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. As with all such reports, the administration will look into the situation and respond accordingly. To the extent that specific students might be involved, the District will not be able to comment in any detail due to student privacy laws.

“As a general matter, the District is very well aware of each student’s right under United States Supreme Court and Second Circuit Court of Appeals precedent to decline participation in the Pledge. The District also welcomes community dialogue on freedom of speech, civic engagement, and the right to be free from political compulsion.

“In addition to instructing students in reading, science, math, and other traditional subjects, educators take great pride in nurturing and developing critical thinkers capable of engaging in rational and respectful civil discourse. The faculty and staff of the Elmira City School District remain dedicated to those goals every moment of each school day.”

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20140528/NEWS10/305280027/Elmira-school-district-responds-student-claims-Pledge-case

[AtheistCrusader]

1. So what.

“disrespectful to America and to military personnel.”


Sitting, during such a display, can be fairly considered first amendment expression, even if it is predicated upon something other than the 'under god' bit. So the teacher's alleged objection sounds like complete blithering nonsense.

[cbayer]

2. Sounds like this might turn out to be a good educational experience for school

districts that don't know or understand the law.