Ohio Lawmakers Want K-12 Schools to Post Public Policy on the Pledge of Allegiance
Source: https://www.beaconjournal.com/
A bill introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives would mandate that schools publicly post their policies on the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Currently, Ohio schools must have a policy on whether students recite the pledge, but the new bill, sponsored by Rep. Gail Pavliga and Rep. Tracy Richardson, would require these policies to be available on district websites. The bill also stipulates that schools cannot force students to recite the pledge or allow intimidation to coerce participation.
Rep. Gail Pavliga, a sponsor of the bill, emphasized the importance of clear school policies on the Pledge of Allegiance and other patriotic practices. She believes that posting these policies publicly will help parents understand and influence their children’s participation. Pavliga, who considers herself patriotic, argues that this transparency will better inform taxpayers. The bill, which requires only a minor amendment to Ohio Revised Code, has not yet been assigned to a committee but is expected to pass by the end of the legislative session in December.
The practice of students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance began in 1892 to commemorate Columbus Day. Over time, religious groups raised objections: Mennonites in 1918 protested the pledge’s implied support for armed conflict, and Jehovah’s Witnesses in the 1930s viewed flag saluting as idolatry. In 1943, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that students cannot be forced to salute the flag, following a case where Jehovah’s Witnesses’ children were expelled for refusing to participate.
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