Alonzo
05-09-2008, 06:09 PM
Three eighth-graders at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Junior High spent Thursday in in-school suspension for sitting down during the pledge of allegiance.
Brandt Dahl said his homeroom teacher had never before told the class that the school handbook required students to stand up during the pledge.
The 13-year-old and two female students remained in their seats while classmates recited the pledge.
Principal Colleen Houglum, who was observing the class that morning, told those three students to report to the office, according to students’ accounts of what happened.
“At first, everyone thought that she was joking,” said Bishop Edens, a 14-year-old student in the class. “But after a few seconds, she got a little angry and said report to the office now.”
Houglum later told the class it was disrespectful to sit during the pledge of allegiance, especially at a time when there are troops fighting in Iraq, Edens said.
Houglum said in an interview that the school’s handbook requires students to stand during the pledge, but reciting it is optional. She said violating the student handbook may result in a variety of consequences.
Houglum said she could not comment about individual students because of privacy laws.
Teacher Sarah Johnson, new to the district this year, did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Superintendent Bernie Lipp did not return a call seeking comment.
Dahl said he and the other two students did homework all day during suspension and will be able to return to classes today.
“I thought it was kind of dumb because I didn’t do anything wrong,” Dahl said. “It should be the people’s choice.”
His mother, Kim Dahl, called the suspension “ridiculous” and said her son deserved a warning first since that policy had never been enforced before.
Edens, who stands up during the pledge but chooses not to recite it, said he didn’t think it was right for the school to force students to stand.
“She (Houglum) was talking about how people are fighting in the war for freedom, but she took away their freedom,” Edens said.
Today, Edens plans to sit down during the pledge to protest the school’s policy.
“I’m worried (about getting in trouble), but I feel I should speak my mind about this whole thing and not have her force her beliefs on anyone else,” Edens said.
Shaun Anderson, the father of one of the girls who was suspended, said his daughter normally stands for the pledge, but was talking to a friend about an assignment and didn’t hear it coming over the intercom. Anderson asked that his daughter’s name not be printed.
Anderson, a member of the military, said he believes people should stand during the pledge of allegiance in respect to those who have served the country.
“I totally, 100 percent agree with her,” Anderson said of the principal’s decision. “I think any American should believe that.”
http://www.in-forum.com/News/articles/200603
What the hell? This gets you suspended? I never really cared one way or another about the pledge, but I did usually stand, barring the occasional homework assignment I forgot to do.
Though I remember one year I didn't stand for about half the year. Like normal the pledge came on and I did stand, but I was also working on my homework so I was leaning on my desk. After the pledge a kid behind me got pissed off and asked me why I didn't do what I was supposed to do. I just said I was doing my homework and didn't really care one way or the other. This went back and forth a bit until he told me that I should leave the country if I don't like it, and that he would love to just smash someone like me if he met me outside of school.
That was all I had to hear. Threatening me never worked, if anything it tends to prompt me to do things that piss people off even more and I've always been that way. So, for the rest of the year, I remained seated during the pledge. I really enjoyed pissing him off day after day. :D
Brandt Dahl said his homeroom teacher had never before told the class that the school handbook required students to stand up during the pledge.
The 13-year-old and two female students remained in their seats while classmates recited the pledge.
Principal Colleen Houglum, who was observing the class that morning, told those three students to report to the office, according to students’ accounts of what happened.
“At first, everyone thought that she was joking,” said Bishop Edens, a 14-year-old student in the class. “But after a few seconds, she got a little angry and said report to the office now.”
Houglum later told the class it was disrespectful to sit during the pledge of allegiance, especially at a time when there are troops fighting in Iraq, Edens said.
Houglum said in an interview that the school’s handbook requires students to stand during the pledge, but reciting it is optional. She said violating the student handbook may result in a variety of consequences.
Houglum said she could not comment about individual students because of privacy laws.
Teacher Sarah Johnson, new to the district this year, did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Superintendent Bernie Lipp did not return a call seeking comment.
Dahl said he and the other two students did homework all day during suspension and will be able to return to classes today.
“I thought it was kind of dumb because I didn’t do anything wrong,” Dahl said. “It should be the people’s choice.”
His mother, Kim Dahl, called the suspension “ridiculous” and said her son deserved a warning first since that policy had never been enforced before.
Edens, who stands up during the pledge but chooses not to recite it, said he didn’t think it was right for the school to force students to stand.
“She (Houglum) was talking about how people are fighting in the war for freedom, but she took away their freedom,” Edens said.
Today, Edens plans to sit down during the pledge to protest the school’s policy.
“I’m worried (about getting in trouble), but I feel I should speak my mind about this whole thing and not have her force her beliefs on anyone else,” Edens said.
Shaun Anderson, the father of one of the girls who was suspended, said his daughter normally stands for the pledge, but was talking to a friend about an assignment and didn’t hear it coming over the intercom. Anderson asked that his daughter’s name not be printed.
Anderson, a member of the military, said he believes people should stand during the pledge of allegiance in respect to those who have served the country.
“I totally, 100 percent agree with her,” Anderson said of the principal’s decision. “I think any American should believe that.”
http://www.in-forum.com/News/articles/200603
What the hell? This gets you suspended? I never really cared one way or another about the pledge, but I did usually stand, barring the occasional homework assignment I forgot to do.
Though I remember one year I didn't stand for about half the year. Like normal the pledge came on and I did stand, but I was also working on my homework so I was leaning on my desk. After the pledge a kid behind me got pissed off and asked me why I didn't do what I was supposed to do. I just said I was doing my homework and didn't really care one way or the other. This went back and forth a bit until he told me that I should leave the country if I don't like it, and that he would love to just smash someone like me if he met me outside of school.
That was all I had to hear. Threatening me never worked, if anything it tends to prompt me to do things that piss people off even more and I've always been that way. So, for the rest of the year, I remained seated during the pledge. I really enjoyed pissing him off day after day. :D