[AmishDude]

You are much more eriudite than I, so I will ask you. I know compulsary education is a state law. Is recitation of the pledge a state law? I know there was a law in '54 that added "under God" to the pledge, but did it include anything other than a recommendation that it be recited in schools?

Here is my point: I know that previous Supreme Courts have ruled the Bill of Rights are individual rights, but the fact is that the first amendment does start with what George Will calls "the 5 most beautiful words in the English language":

Congress shall make no law . . .

It is very easy to argue that the First Amendment doesn't apply to state laws, and in fact state laws in the early 19th century bear that out.

[mhking]

Is recitation of the pledge a state law? I know there was a law in '54 that added "under God" to the pledge, but did it include anything other than a recommendation that it be recited in schools?

AFAIK, there is not a LAW that says that the pledge should be recited; however, this may be a requirement of the individual states. I seem to remember a discussion about that a few weeks ago.

I'm sure someone can remember this one - where the conservative kid, I think he was in Santa Monica, asked one of the administrators about the recitation of the Pledge, and noted that the state required it.

I can't remember the kid's name, nor the details - he appeared on Larry Elder's show and got called on the carpet for it.