Do I have a right to sit down during the pledge of allegiance?

Question

I choose not to say the Pledge for my own reasons, but the teachers at my high school have us stand for the pledge every morning. If I am not going to say the pledge and will continue to do my work while the rest of my class says it, then standing up only makes doing my work more difficult. I have issues with the pledge and public school is required, so it would seem to me that they cannot also require us to stand for the pledge as well, if that makes sense.Would it be within my rights to refuse to stand?

Please understand that this is really just out of curiosity, I do realize that trying to get away with not standing is not worth the trouble. And please, I do not need to have anyone tell me why I should say the pledge- I am a loyal American and a Christian, so neither of those is my reasoning behind not saying it.

Thanks to everyone who answered so far...Just to clear up my view, I am not against anything to do with the wording of the pledge, or at least I am only opposed to one phrase (and it isn't "under God", btw), I just have a problem with something else involving the pledge. I will stand for the national anthem, will sing all of the patriotic songs and all, I just don't agree with certain things about saying the pledge in schools. I do realize that I don't get much work done while everyone else is saying it, but I don't think that it is right for us to be forced to 'respect others' and their saying something that I disagree with when they (mostly) don't care and just say the pledge on autopilot.

And I'm sorry if my opinion has offended any of you, too. I know that I am lucky to live where I do and have the right to question whether or not I have a right to do something.

Answer 1

I this is one of those times when you may have to accept that the school is not the real world and many rights that you will have as an adult you do not have now.

I think if you have a legimit reason to sit during the pleadge you can probably make a case to the school administration and if you are willing to fight with them, honestly you might win. Political speech is one of the founding principles of the first amendment.

But it probably wouldn't be worth it. Schools have a huge amount of protection too. Since it is a public school it is their job to support the idea of the pledge, if you work on school work while others do the pledge than you are getting an unfair adventage, which encourages others to sit out of the pledge. It is in the schools best intrest to make you do something else while the rest of the school is doing their pledge.

Answer 2

You don't have to say the Pledge, you should not have to stand for the Pledge (although I understand some schools require it). You should not be singled out for refusing ot recite the Pledge (by being made to leave the room for instance), but you should stop working and sit quietly while allowing those who do say the Pledge to do so.

Answer 3

I did not say the pledge all through high school. I refused to stand and although I got the occasional chastising from my teachers they could not make me stand. Some would say, why not stand, and not make a big deal out of it, I would say that I will stand up for what I believe and will not conform just because everyone else is doing it Most would drop it after that.
If you feel strongly about not standing then don't stand, it is not required in public schools, it's an optional pledge and it doesn't have to be yours.

Answer 4

Yeah, of course! I'm appalled that the Pledge was brought back into school this year. I never recite it, although if I'm not busy I will stand. I do not agree with it either for other reasons and that is OUR choice. Sitting can be taken as being disrespectful towards our country, but we all have our own reasons. You don't have to be anti-american to be against the Pledge.

Answer 5

Well, you have a constitutional right to be a jerk and stay seated if you want. However, the "respectful" thing to do is stand and not say the pledge. You don't have to agree with someone (or something), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be respectful. Its the civilized thing to do.

And come on...just how much extra work are you going to get done during the minute that it takes to stand and give the pledge! That excuse don't fly.

Answer 6

I totally understand what you are saying. Seriously, you do not have to take the pledge if you choose not to. What a lot of kids would do in my classes is they would stand but with their hands at there side or behind their backs and not speak. They said they did not so as to show respect for others beliefs, but yet be able to keep their own in tact too.

Answer 7

Consider what the word "allegiance" means. It is derived from the relationship of a serf or vassal to his leige lord in medeival Europe. You say you are a Christian (having a Lord) and obviously you are a person of principles. You should not be asked to give allegiance to more than one master. This is a land of freedom, so stick to your principles and sit!

Answer 8

Legally you are allowed to sit. However, the school may feel you are causing a disturbance by not participating. I would have your parents write a letter requesting you to sit out. This way it's premeditated and your not causing a scene when the teacher questions you.

Answer 9

Sit.

Unlike all of you who tell you to stand, I understand that if the pledge means nothing to you, you should not say it. You may stand out, but at least you wont be a hypocrite.

Answer 10

Yes, you do have a right to sit.

However, being that you are in school, realize that this singles you out and people will clown on you for doing so.