Students Should Not Have to Say the

Pledge of Allegiance in School!

(Brief)
Jeff Mason, a fifth grade teacher at Highland Elementary School in Reedsport, Oregon,
battled for his students rights to remain respectfully seated during the pledge for twelve years
before he called the ACLU of Oregon. Although the federal law, the Oregon law, and the
Reedsport School District policy all prohibit compelling public school students to participate in
the Pledge of Allegiance, faculty and staff members at Highland Elementary School forced their
students to stand during the daily recitation of the pledge as normally as if they were eating
breakfast, singling out students for public embarrassment if they attempted to fight for their right
to remain seated peacefully. During Jeffs attempt to justify the rights of Highland Elementary
School students, he faced significant intimidation and hostility from school administration and
staff. At one point, Jeffs former principal even ordered him to force his own students to stand for
the Pledge, but Jeff knew that to do so would be against the law and reached out to his union for
help. After enduring years of meetings and letters that never resulted in the schools full
compliance with the law, Jeff turned to the ACLU. On Thursday December 15, 2011, Jeff got
what he wanted: to work in a school where the Pledge wasnt promoted. On the contrary Jeff
now works at a school where the abolition of promoting the Pledge is promoted instead. You
dont want there to be more and more of those schools, schools where the Pledge is promoted.
Help Jeffs dream come true all around the planet. Help abolish the promoting of the Pledge
today and every day from now on. The little things that people do make the big things come true.

(Rebuttal)

1. Others might think that its just a small thing that really doesnt matter because kids
dont know what their saying, but that isnt true. This is an email written by student Daniel
Royston after he was forced to say the Pledge
Students were being told that they had to participate by at least standing. I calmly walked
down to the principals office. When I started to explain what had happened, he cut me off. He said that
we didnt need to talk about what our right is, but rather what is right. He said the Pledge showed
respect to this country and the people that have died for our freedom. I told the principal that I was
expressing my freedom by choosing not to stand. And that I did not want to be associated with the
Pledge of Allegiance and standing was associating myself with it. The principal then asked if I had talked
to my parents about it. I told him that, yes, I had informed my mom that I had made this decision. He then
called my mom. Before the call, I asked him to make sure to tell my mom that Im not in trouble. He
didnt. The principal started talking to my mom like I was called down to his office, and that I was in
trouble. During the conversation, my mom stated that it was her opinion that I should stand for the
Pledge. The principal used that to say that, because my mother told me to (which she did not), I have to
stand. I told him that this violated my beliefs, both political and religious, and he just cut me off to say
that my mom told me to, so I have to. One of the most shocking parts of the conversation was when he
started talking about me. He said that hes seen a lot of kids with a lot of talent, and that I was one of
them. He said that he really didnt want to see me go down a path where I use my skills for unproductive
reasons and that he wanted to see me make it through high school. I asked if my beliefs would restrict
me from graduating. He said, Well, I dont know. Its possible. I told him that in my beliefs, I found
standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be offensive. He asked if my beliefs really found standing for the
Pledge offensive. When I replied yes, he, without pause, said, I dont buy that. When he said, I
really want to see you use the skills and intelligence that you have for good. I said And I am, to which
he snapped, Dont argue with me.

2. Another thing Daniel Ryston could have said to prove evidence against his principal
was to say that forcing him to say the Pledge violated his first amendment rights to freedom of
speech and freedom to practice his own religion.

(Summation)
I understand that this pledge is in honor of the people who fought to give us our rights in
the first place, but making us say it for weeks on a time makes it seem like a chore. Students who
say the Pledge every day in school are more likely to say I dont like school than students who

dont say the Pledge every day in school. Maybe if students were not forced to say the Pledge
every day they would be more likely to say it of their own accord. If they dont they will
definitely like school better than before, and thats really what everybody wants isnt it? This is
why I believe that students should not have to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school.