No, but under the current wording of the pledge the student is forced to profess their belief to a public school official or fellow students. No one should have to do that.
My 'Seig Heil' above was too harsh, and I apologize, but that was what immediately came to mind when I envisioned a legislature requiring that schools ask students to pledge or sing.
I feel as patriotic as the next person and am happy to pledge my allegiance to this country, but I don't want the legislature mandating that public school children do it.
Never ruin an apology with an excuse.
I read that somewhere.
We're all on the same team,I hope.
No, but under the current wording of the pledge the student is forced to profess their belief to a public school official or fellow students. No one should have to do that.
Follow closely: "No student may be compelled..." The only people that "have to do" something are the teachers. Should a student not wish to participate, they can stand in respectful silence until the Pledge is over. No harm, no foul. I don't see how this "forces" them to profess belief in or against anything. Should anyone ask, they can simply say: "I don't wish to participate." End of conversation.