I-TEAM: Local school asks for explanation when child sits for Pledge of Allegiance

FAYETTE, Ohio (WTVG) - A Fulton County family is being asked to explain why their elementary school child is not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The family believes the girl is exercising her rights.

The mom told the 13 Action News I-TEAM that she understands there are big feelings on an issue like this, but she does not believe her daughter should have to offer what the school terms a “legitimate explanation.”

When the fifth grader, daughter of Shaynn Alexis, decided she no longer wanted to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at Fayette Elementary, her mother addressed it with her.

“I was honest with her and told her about why she doesn’t have to do it, and why you have to be respectful and quiet while it is being done,” said Alexis.

Later, a message home from a school counselor confirmed that the student was sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance and occasionally talking while other students are reciting it. This mom wanted to put a stop to that.

“You will sit down. You will be respectful. I didn’t raise her to be talking during a time when you are expected to be respectful during it. You will sit down, you will behave,” said Alexis.

Another message from the counselor really perplexed her.

That counselor says: “I did tell her that if she brought in a note from you with a legitimate explanation of why you don’t believe she needs to stand, we would honor that request.”

“Who are you to judge a valid reason or not to do that?” added Alexis. “You can’t even ask for a note in the first place. You can’t do that.”

This family has no plans to leave the school or the district, but they’re trying to figure out if and can a school administrator ask for what the counselor called a “legitimate explanation.”

The message from the school ends with this note from the counselor: “There has been only one other family who chose to have their child opt out of participating in the Pledge of Allegiance and they have since moved.”

The I-TEAM reached out to the district several times on Monday for a comment, but has not heard back yet. We did, though, hear back from the Ohio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU released the following statement:

“This has been settled law for the better part of a century: the First Amendment prohibits any public school from compelling a student to stand or salute for the pledge of allegiance. On top of that, Ohio state law prohibits coercing or intimidating any student into participating in the pledge. Students do not need permission or an “explanation” to justify the exercise of their constitutional rights, nor does a public school have the authority to decide whether their explanation is ‘legitimate.’”

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