Students No Longer Required To Stand For Pledge of Allegiance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dotty Griffith, (512) 478-7300 x 106 or 923-1909; [email protected]
AUSTIN -- Students in the Sweeny Independent School District (SISD) will no longer be required to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance and students who refuse to stand will not be disciplined or otherwise retaliated against, attorneys for the school district assured the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas.
Last week, the ACLU of Texas wrote to the Greater Houston area school district, in response to complaints that administrators were violating students’ right to refrain from standing. The administrators cited the Sweeny High School (SHS) Rulebook, which they claimed requires students to stand during the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
“We are glad that the school has chosen to recognize students’ indisputable First Amendment right to remain seated during the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem, a right that has been enforced by numerous courts throughout the United States,” said Manuel Quinto-Pozos, Staff Attorney of the ACLU of Texas. “Our Bill of Rights and American tradition protect dissenters and the majority just the same, and the right to express disagreement is a patriotic value that all Texans should fight for.”
Also, school officials agreed that parental waivers will no longer be required for students who do not wish to stand.
Attorneys for the district explained that the changes are permanent without further action and that changes to the student-parent information guide will be made during the regular annual review this summer. The new guidelines were communicated to all SISD principals and assistant principals Wednesday. However, the school district did not plan to announce the changes to students, parents, or teachers.
