[Restorer]

A landmark 1943 U.S. Supreme Court case, West Virginia State Board of Education vs. Barnette, established that students cannot be compelled to recite the pledge.

No exactly.

That case ruled that a student cannot be punished for not pledging if it is for religious reasons. The student in question states that his refusal is for political reasons.

[ewing]

Well said.

[ladylib]

Doesn't make any difference what his reasons are and the school can't ask.

The legislature tried to make all students recite the pledge in school in Virginia with only a religous exemption. They carefully looked over their legislation and decided it wouldn't be in the schools' best interest to try to make the pledge mandatory.

[earplug]

So its liberty and justice for all, If its for religious reasons. Kind of like being drafted to liberate others?
As the pledge was adopted after WWII and post FDR, big government. I guess its all ok if it echos conservative values.
The corruption of the masses to force complience with the power of the state.

[earplug]

So its liberty and justice for all, If its for religious reasons. Kind of like being drafted to liberate others?
As the pledge was adopted after WWII and post FDR, big government. I guess its all ok if it echos conservative values.
The corruption of the masses to force complience with the power of the state.

[E Rocc]

A landmark 1943 U.S. Supreme Court case, West Virginia State Board of Education vs. Barnette, established that students cannot be compelled to recite the pledge.

No exactly.

That case ruled that a student cannot be punished for not pledging if it is for religious reasons. The student in question states that his refusal is for political reasons.

The decision made no such stipulation:

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us

We think the action of the local authorities in compelling the flag salute and pledge transcends constitutional limitations on their power and invades the sphere of intellect and spirit which it is the purpose of the First Amendment to our Constitution to reserve from all official control.

-Eric