ALBANY, NY (WRGB) — CBS 6 has continuing coverage of the Pledge of Allegiance controversy at Shaftsbury Elementary School in Bennington County.
This week, we spoke to a Vermont lawyer to get his take. Now we’re asking the question: what if the situation were to happen at a New York school?
The situation at Shaftsbury has gotten attention beyond the Green Mountain State.
As we reported this week, CBS 6 was there during this week’s packed school board meeting after claims the Pledge was banned at Shaftsbury Elementary, but officials say that’s not true. Rather, school leaders say for the past few years, reciting the pledge has been something principals can decide individually.
The board chair said this week some schools recite the Pledge during morning announcements, some schools don’t say it at all. At Shaftsbury, he said the Pledge is not a “school-wide” practice, but has occurred in some classrooms at the teacher’s discretion.
With differences between Vermont and New York when it comes to education, we asked attorney Nicholas Marricco of Tully Rinckey how parents could have their child recite the Pledge if they wanted to, despite being in a class where the teacher chooses to not do the pledge.
“The parent would have to work with the Superintendent and the school principal. Maybe let’s say in one classroom, a teacher doesn’t want to do it for whatever reason, but down the hall another teacher does want to do it. Maybe your kid could give the Pledge of Allegiance in that classroom with that teacher and their students… If you want to stand up and recite it, it’s up to you. But, the easiest solution? Have the Principal just say it on the loudspeaker,” Marricco said.
