"Every public school is now required to offer the pledge of allegiance or the national anthem in grades one to 12 each school day, according to a change in state law included in 2001 Wisconsin Act 16 (the budget bill) that became effective 9/1/01. The law previously required every public school to offer the pledge of allegiance in grades one to eight at the beginning of school at least one day per week.
No student may be compelled against the student's objections or those of the student's parent(s)/guardian to recite the pledge or to sing the anthem."
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.