Student refused to recite the Pledge gets Police escort

[Torofamily Profile]

Police escort student out of class after refusal to recite Pledge of Allegiance

A middle school teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland, will have to apologize to a 13-year-old student after yelling at her and having her escorted out of class by school police when the student refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

According to the ACLU of Maryland, a 13-year-old female student at Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance on Jan. 27. The teacher reportedly ordered the girl out into the hallway, where he threatened the girl with detention and then sent her to the school counselor's office.

The next day, when the student again refused to stand for the pledge, the teacher called school officers to remove her from the classroom and take her to the counselor's office once again.

"When the student’s mother reached out to an assistant principal for help in dealing with the teacher’s abusive and improper actions, the official said her daughter should instead apologize for her 'defiance.' The student did apologize, twice," the ACLU states.

The right to sit silently during the Pledge of Allegiance has been held up by the US Supreme Court, and is enshrined in Maryland state law and Mongtomery County Public Schools' own policies, reports the Washington Post.

"No one will be permitted to intentionally embarrass you if you choose not to participate," says the school district's handbook, according to TheGazette.net in Maryland.

The ACLU and the girl's mother declined to identify the girl. They say the student, now 14, has been "traumatized" by the experience, including taunting from fellow students, and has not returned to the school since the incident.

Neither the ACLU nor the school district would identify the teacher involved.

The girl's mother says the way the teacher "bellowed" at her daughter was inappropriate and the school should take disciplinary action against the teacher, reports TheGazette.net.

"It's an even bigger problem because he did it to a child in front of a group of other children," the mother said. "On top of that, the school didn't protect her. I thought they would protect her, and that's why I let her go to that school. I was disappointed."

The turning point evidently came when the ACLU of Maryland sent a letter (PDF) to the school district asking for an apology.

"Expression of patriotism in unsettling times certainly is a worthy and understandable emotion," the letter stated. "But, as the Supreme Court recognizes, that expression is best honored by venerating the civil liberties and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution and not by losing patience with those whose views or actions do not conform to those of the majority."

The teacher's actions were "a violation of our regulations, and we're in the process of rectifying the situation," Montgomery Public Schools spokesperson Dana Tofig told TheGazette.net. Tofig said the teacher would apologize to the student, but would not say if any disciplinary action would be taken against the teacher.

The president of the county's teachers' union, Doug Prouty, told the Washington Examiner that he supports the move to have the teacher apologize.

"My initial thought is yes, but we would need to know all of the details," Prouty said.

School officials say several conflicts involving the Pledge of Allegiance arise every year in Maryland, but most are resolved quietly.


Aint that a bitch

[Torofamily Profile]

no opinions?

[Lowsix Profile]

Yes.

One of the things wrong with america, and this bugs the FUCK out of me, is the ability to say that ANYTHING traumatizes people.

If you are going to take a stand of defiance, be defiant all the way, dont pretend that this shit traumatized the kid soooo bad she cant go to school.

Her parents probably put her up to not standing, instead of her own well thought out personal reasons for not doing so, and so to get called on it, since she wasnt invested in her own defiance, is now..."so traumatized she cant go to school" and will probably sue.

Fuck that.

[Oldscho0l Profile]

ignorance is bliss. This teacher just follows the rest of the sheeple who think patriotism is something to be proud of. They haven't a clue of what is really going on and won't even hear of anything but the propaganda.

I love my country, but I refuse to follow these pigs who are making a mockery of everything we set out to become.

[Nihilgeist Profile]

Thoughts?? I got thoughts fer ya!! UUU-baama is a moooslem terroristanista and this just prooves that he's turning our yoot into NAZI mooooslem socia-fundi-hippie-god haten faggots!!!

Get yer guns ready for the Reeevolution!!! Thought itll be toootally different than that there moooslem reeeevolution in eeeeraaan and that there caumi reeevolution in coooban. This here'll be a God fearin good'ol christian reeeevolution!!! YEEEEEEHAAAWWWW!!!

[Torofamily Profile]

Yes.

One of the things wrong with america, and this bugs the FUCK out of me, is the ability to say that ANYTHING traumatizes people.

If you are going to take a stand of defiance, be defiant all the way, dont pretend that this shit traumatized the kid soooo bad she cant go to school.

Her parents probably put her up to not standing, instead of her own well thought out personal reasons for not doing so, and so to get called on it, since she wasnt invested in her own defiance, is now..."so traumatized she cant go to school" and will probably sue.

Fuck that.

good point
didnt look at it that way

[Samkenman Profile]

I respect the right of the student not to take the pledge. Its like the Miranda right to remain silent when you get arrested. We have the right to free speech AND we have the right to STFU!!!...The is no law that says you have to take any pledge or oath. Now that being said...I do believe that if one is truly invested in the country, joining the military for instance, taking an oath or pledge would be a respectable requirement. One can't be a doctor without taking the Hippocratic oath ect....

Personally I have taken that pledge at least 1,000 (probably more) times over the course of my early education...I've fulfilled my quota.....I don't need, as an adult, to take it again every time I hear or see others taking it. If I feel like taking it.... I will...if I don't feel like it...I won't....

There are around 220 school days in a year....do the kids really have to take the same pledge 220 times a year??? And after 12 years of school...a student will have taken the pledge around 2,640 times!!!! Is it really that necessary??

The teacher needs a lesson in humility!!! Making mountains out of mole hills such as this is just plain useless and caused more of a disturbance than what it was worth.

[Torofamily Profile]

personally i think that this was ridiculous over reaction on the school part and as low pointed out, the parent are probably totally to blame.


but i just think that if our president can take this kind of a stand then why the hell would the school be so ignorant.

[Wolfbane7272 Profile]

Police escort student out of class after refusal to recite Pledge of Allegiance

A middle school teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland, will have to apologize to a 13-year-old student after yelling at her and having her escorted out of class by school police when the student refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

According to the ACLU of Maryland, a 13-year-old female student at Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance on Jan. 27. The teacher reportedly ordered the girl out into the hallway, where he threatened the girl with detention and then sent her to the school counselor's office.

The next day, when the student again refused to stand for the pledge, the teacher called school officers to remove her from the classroom and take her to the counselor's office once again.

"When the student’s mother reached out to an assistant principal for help in dealing with the teacher’s abusive and improper actions, the official said her daughter should instead apologize for her 'defiance.' The student did apologize, twice," the ACLU states.

The right to sit silently during the Pledge of Allegiance has been held up by the US Supreme Court, and is enshrined in Maryland state law and Mongtomery County Public Schools' own policies, reports the Washington Post.

"No one will be permitted to intentionally embarrass you if you choose not to participate," says the school district's handbook, according to TheGazette.net in Maryland.

The ACLU and the girl's mother declined to identify the girl. They say the student, now 14, has been "traumatized" by the experience, including taunting from fellow students, and has not returned to the school since the incident.

Neither the ACLU nor the school district would identify the teacher involved.

The girl's mother says the way the teacher "bellowed" at her daughter was inappropriate and the school should take disciplinary action against the teacher, reports TheGazette.net.

"It's an even bigger problem because he did it to a child in front of a group of other children," the mother said. "On top of that, the school didn't protect her. I thought they would protect her, and that's why I let her go to that school. I was disappointed."

The turning point evidently came when the ACLU of Maryland sent a letter (PDF) to the school district asking for an apology.

"Expression of patriotism in unsettling times certainly is a worthy and understandable emotion," the letter stated. "But, as the Supreme Court recognizes, that expression is best honored by venerating the civil liberties and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution and not by losing patience with those whose views or actions do not conform to those of the majority."

The teacher's actions were "a violation of our regulations, and we're in the process of rectifying the situation," Montgomery Public Schools spokesperson Dana Tofig told TheGazette.net. Tofig said the teacher would apologize to the student, but would not say if any disciplinary action would be taken against the teacher.

The president of the county's teachers' union, Doug Prouty, told the Washington Examiner that he supports the move to have the teacher apologize.

"My initial thought is yes, but we would need to know all of the details," Prouty said.

School officials say several conflicts involving the Pledge of Allegiance arise every year in Maryland, but most are resolved quietly.


Aint that a bitch

Neither the ACLU nor the school district would identify the teacher involved.

nice so he is under the youth offenders act ? how old is this guy ? give me a break its a friggin white wash ..lol all for control thats what this is .. someone a "child" has independent thought and they fear it .

cheers

[Levi11 Profile]

I don't see any blame you have the right to do as you please as long as no harm is caused....