Washington State Law and the Pledge

[Gentlegreen]

My daughter has an assignment to write a paper about her thoughts on whether or not she agrees with saying the Pledge of Allegance every morning. Her classroom aide told the kids that it was a state law that school children must recite the pledge daily. The only exemption is a religious one--there are two girls who are Jehovah's Witnesses in the class who are excused.

Seems strange to me that this would be an actual law instead of a guideline or something. I cannot find anything specific in my internet researching. Does anybody here know?

I can't imagine that this is written into law and find it disturbing that the kids would be informed as such when it probably is not true.

If it is a law, would it be overridden by the 9th Circuit Court decision of unconstitutionality?

I'm confused!

[Rachel Fox]

It is not a state law that she must recite it. She does not have to if she does not want to. The controversy was over whether it should be allowed to be said in school bc of the word God. The 9th circuit reigns over several western states. Their decision not to allow the pledge to be said in schools was to take affect a few weeks ago in those states. However, the state of Ca asked for a stay of 90 days I believe in order to get their business together so they can appeal the decision. I think it's all very interesting.

[Gentlegreen]

Yeah, I followed that whole controversy very closely. Not once did I run across ANYTHING stating that saying the pledge was the law. I discussed the whole "under God" thing with my kids and let them make their own decision regarding whether they say this part, or in fact any part, of the pledge.

I finally found these:

RCW28A.230.140 "Students not reciting the pledge shall maintain a respectful silence."

Also, Governor Locke stated "Current state law allows students to remain silent during the Pledge of Allegiance, if they choose, for whatever reason."

So, no, just as I thought, it's not law and she has been misinformed.

[alexa07]

Yeah, the question in the 9th Circuit is whether the school can have the students reciting the pledge with the words "under God" in it. As most know, you can't have an out loud prayer said in the same cirumstances, even if you let kids "opt out" and remain silent if they wished. The reason is that there is felt to be an element of social coercian in a school setting. So the question is, is the pledge, with under God, the same thing.

[Greaseball]

In hs I decided that if I did not want to say the pledge I would stand anyway to show respect. Kind of like when you're at someone's house for dinner and they all bow their heads in prayer, you can bow yours without actually praying.

No, there is no law. I don't see how that could be enforced. With a ticket?