[Teacher317]

You are correct. The teacher was out of line and was probably trying to humiliate the kid. The kid can stand there and not recite it if he/she doesn't want to, but making them leave isn't smart.

Given what's in the story, this seems most likely. However, my natural distrust of journalists (who enjoy a good sensationalized story), and my knee-jerk habit of defending teachers (SOME of 'em, anyway), I'll throw out these possibilities: the kid might've been disrupting others while they were reciting The Pledge, the kid might've been snotty or disrespectful after the teacher asked him to participate, or the kid might've been reciting an *ahem* "alternative version" of his own making.

[FreeTally]

All possibly true. I would have thought the teacher would have sent the kid to the principal or dean. But like you said, we shouldn't trust that this jounalist has reported the story 100% correctly.

[Dimensio]

the kid might've been reciting an *ahem* "alternative version"

I plead alignment
To the flakes
Of the untitled snakes of a merry cow.
And to the repbulicans for which they scam
One nacho, underpants, with licorice and jugs of wine for owls.



It's a free country!