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Republican lawmakers need to require Ohio faculty districts to make their Pledge of Allegiance coverage publicly obtainable.
State Reps. Gail Pavliga, R-Portage County, and Tracy Richardson, R-Marysville, launched Home Invoice 657 over the summer time and testified in assist of their invoice Tuesday throughout the Ohio Home Major and Secondary Committee Assembly, calling it a transparency invoice.
“Lots of you grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in class and could also be stunned to find that not all colleges and school rooms in Ohio are at present studying or reciting the Pledge,” Richardson mentioned. “Some mother and father too are unaware that their kids will not be being taught this vital observe. Mother and father have a proper to know.”
The invoice wouldn’t require college students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, it could simply require faculty districts to publish the coverage on their web site.
“Little or no would have to be completed by every faculty district, the coverage already exists, and most faculties have already got a web site,” Pavliga mentioned.
The US Supreme Court docket dominated in 1943 that college students will not be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at public colleges if it goes in opposition to their non secular beliefs. This case got here after Jehovah’s Witnesses college students had been expelled from their West Virginia faculty for not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. On the time, West Virginia Board of Schooling required public faculty college students to salute the flag and Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t say the Pledge of Allegiance as a result of it conflicts with their Bible teachings round worshipping God.
Studying the Pledge of Allegiance teaches college students to respect the flag, Richardson mentioned.
“Reciting it builds unity and nationalism by affirming our dedication to our values,” she mentioned. “At a time when many appear polarized, it’s a significant custom that brings all People collectively.”
As a former trainer, State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan, D-Parma, mentioned it broke his coronary heart when college students wouldn’t participate within the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I don’t assume it was due to a spiritual exemption,” he mentioned. “I feel it was merely apathy.”
He requested Pavliga and Richardson how faculty districts and oldsters can inspire college students to need to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I feel that, as we convey extra consciousness to this situation, that I feel that you will notice extra mother and father being extra vocal with their kids and with the varsity district,” Pavliga mentioned. “And I feel it can begin and spark some discussions.”
State Reps. Jodi Whitted, D-Madeira, requested the invoice’s sponsors if they’ve obtained questions from mother and father who had been unable to seek out their faculty district’s coverage on the Pledge.
“No, it was one thing that we had talked about, and simply felt that the time was proper to have the ability to have it on the market,” Pavliga mentioned. “And we’re form of a bit shocked by the truth that the varsity system might need a coverage in place, however they weren’t required to publish it.”
If the invoice had been to turn out to be regulation, a faculty district that already has their Pledge of Allegiance coverage posted on their web site would already be in compliance, Pavliga mentioned.
The present Basic Meeting will end on the finish of the month, that means any payments that don’t move will die and must be re-introduced subsequent Basic Meeting.
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