Dilworth Minnesota is not far from Fargo. On Thursday, three eighth graders in this small town have been suspended from school because they sat down during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
School rules at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Junior High requires that students stand during the pledge, but does not require that they recite it. The school's principle is hiding behind the usual "this is a privacy issue" smoke screen and is not commenting on this disciplinary action.
The students committed this act of sitting down while Principle Houglum was observing the class. She told them to report to the office, where they then served what is called "in-school suspension."
The students were apparently openly berated for being disrespectful to the troops in Iraq.
The next day (this morning) another student, Bishop Edens, was suspended for the same reason, but was, according to reports, "quickly invited back once his principal learned that [this] rule might be unconstitutional."
Bummer. Your first and probably only chance to get suspended for political reasons, and the school administration goes soft on you... oh well.
At least one of the Thursday Three failed to stand during the pledge because she did not hear it on the intercom.
The story is reported here and here.
Comments
Here's how we should handle the Pledge (and the moment of silence):
http://logicalextremes.blogspot.com/2008/04/moment-of-silence-for-pledge-of.html
Posted by: Logical Extremes | May 9, 2008 6:18 PM
This isn't even a complicated situation. Sigh. The amazing lack of understanding about what this country stands for in the context of the pledge is breathtaking.
Incidentally, "taht students and during the pledge" should probably read "that students stand during the pledge."
Posted by: Joshua Zelinsky | May 9, 2008 8:00 PM
Posted by: Virgil Samms | May 9, 2008 8:15 PM
At least it was Minnesota and not North Dakota...
Posted by: Cherish | May 9, 2008 10:18 PM
For those who want to have their say in online polls:
http://www.startribune.com/polls/18800959.html
Posted by: Stephanie Z | May 10, 2008 8:47 AM