Once again public-school administrators and educators are setting themselves up for costly lawsuits by continuing to display immense ignorance surrounding the national anthem and the pledge of allegiance. A middle school student refused demands that he stand during the pledge of allegiance, after which time the police were called. Yes. The police. For an 11-year old. Who did not want to pledge of allegiance in protest of racism. This is a smart youngster, and his parents should be proud. Who should be ashamed is the teacher, Ana Alvarez, who responded in an extremely immature, unprofessional manner. The fact of the matter is, no student in a public school can be forced to stand or otherwise participate in the pledge of allegiance or the national anthem. This is long established law, and these repeated failures to adhere to this provision is quite astonishing. Perhaps with a few more lawsuits and follow-on impacts to their budgets they will learn.
Article below by Kimberly C. Moore at ledger.com.
LAKELAND — An 11-year-old Lawton Chiles Middle Academy student was arrested Feb. 4 and charged with disrupting a school function and resisting arrest without violence following a confrontation with school officials and a law enforcement officer.
Read the rest here.
