Why is it a law in Texas that students must say the pledge?

Question

I know that the "Under God" part of the US pledge was added in the Cold War, but did you know that they recently added it to the Texas pledge? "Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."
It is a law. You must say it unless a parent writes a note and they document it.
I'm just wondering why it is a law when it clearly violates the first amendment right to freedom of speech.
(And if anyone is wondering why it bothers me, it is because I am a student living in Texas.)
What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

It's a law simply because it was voted in.

Texas Requires Pledge in Schools
Texas has joined 34 other states in requiring public school officials to lead students in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The new law, which became effective in September, requires recitation of pledges to both the U.S. and Texas flags, and a moment of silence to pray, meditate, or reflect at the beginning of each school day. Unless their parents submit a written objection, students are required to participate, although there is no penalty for failure to participate. The bill passed easily with little debate.

The Texas law is one of many legislative responses to the decision by the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals banning the Pledge of Allegiance on June 26, 2003 because of its words "under God." The U.S. Congress immediately adopted resolutions expressing indignation by votes of 416-3 in the House and 99-0 in the Senate.

After the full Ninth Circuit en banc refused to reconsider this decision, both houses reaffirmed their support for the Pledge as written by votes of 400-7 and 94-0 in March 2003. Seventeen states enacted new laws or amended policies concerning the Pledge in 2002 and 2003.

The Ninth Circuit decision against recitation of the Pledge by children in public schools is currently on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund submitted a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the Pledge.

Until the Supreme Court decides the issue, lawsuits challenging the Pledge can be expected in many of the 35 states that mandate its recitation in schools. A federal judge voided a Pennsylvania state law requiring teachers to lead students in reciting the Pledge or singing the national anthem each morning. The fourth stanza of the national anthem includes the words "In God is our trust." In Colorado, a federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against a state Pledge law.

Public opinion has always strongly supported schoolchildren reciting the Pledge. Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis's veto of a state law requiring teachers to lead the Pledge helped elect President George H. W. Bush in 1988.

Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) has 221 co-sponsors for his federal Pledge Protection bill in the House (H.R. 2028), which would withdraw jurisdiction from federal courts to decide cases contesting the Pledge. A companion bill in the Senate is sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Jim Talent (R-MO).
http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/2003/oct03/pledge.html

She's not joking folks. You have to say The Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas pledge in the state of Texas.

Answer 2

First, there's no federal regulation, anyplace, that says scholars have to stand for the pledge of allegience. Recently, a college district in Colorado used to be sued for the reason that the district required scholars to face for the pledge of allegience. This, in keeping with one little one's father, violated his rights. The case went to the Supreme Court wherein the court docket brushed aside the go well with for the reason that the daddy didn't have status to item (the mum had important custody, so the daddy had no correct to say the objection). The case can be at the Court's docket once more, however it's commencing from scratch. Some individuals item to the Pledge of Allegience for the reason that of the phrases "beneath God." Others item for the reason that the pledge is to the flag, and to not the nation, and as a result it's similar to a pledge to a graven (sp?) photograph. (Note, I pledge allegience to the flag ... AND to the republic -- why pledge the flag and the nation, why now not simply the nation). Because the Court has held that you simply can not have a public prayer, or be pressured to face or sit down via the sort of prayer, it's most probably that the court docket will discover that requiring scholars to face for the pledge of allegience will go constitutional muster. Now, I recognise that individuals will disagree, in the end, nearly all of individuals think that the pledge is correct, and that status indicates solidarity. I might advocate that the charter (and specially the primary ten amendments) are supposed to LIMIT the rights of the bulk, and to safeguard the minority from that majority.

Answer 3

It's a law because the publically elected legislature in Texas introduced it as a bill, it made it through committee, was voted on and the majority of the legislature wanted it and the governor signed it into law.

Don't like it? Find out who the state legislators for your district are and tell them about it.

In the future, keep an eye on bills as they're introduced and do something proactive to defeat them before they ever leave committee. Waiting for a bill to become law and then trying to repeal it isn't very effective.
.

Answer 4

This country needs to force every students to say the pledge everydayn as with the Texas law, it allows everyone to see who the filthy Godless liberals are who will grow up to be treasonous and haters of the USA and Republicans.

Bet you're some disgusting lib, not wanting to say the pledge. You should be reported to Homeland Security and Tom DeLay, so we can keep an eye on you.

Answer 5

because texas is an american state. all students should be forced to say the pledge. i live in massachussetts and im the only one who says it in my class because im not an ungrateful disrespectful sheister heister.

Answer 6

Because Texas is a backwater state.

Answer 7

Give me a valid source - that's the most ridiculous question I've seen of late.