Students rise every Wednesday during sixth hour to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Yet recently, some are choosing to remain seated in their desks. Whether kids are just lazy, or they are trying to make a statement, their protest is extremely disrespectful and should not be viewed as a bold move of defiance.

All public schools are required to recite the Pledge over the intercom at least once a week, but students are not required to participate. In fact, it is illegal for a teacher or administrator to force a student to stand and recite the Pledge.

There are a plethora of reasons why students will not stand for the Pledge. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses consider pledging allegiance to a flag to be a form of idol worship, which is forbidden. Others are uncomfortable proclaiming allegiance to a nation “under God,” and sit out of protest against these two words. Some people choose to sit to make a statement for something they believe in that the U.S. Government is not acting on.

They may just be choosing to exercise their First Amendment right to free speech. That’s fair. Students should be aware of their rights and exercise them if they wish. But to sit during the Pledge of Allegiance just to be different or to get people mad, that is plain selfish. There is no legitimate reason why students should sit during the Pledge, and it all boils down to ignorance.

By reciting the Pledge, Americans are not proclaiming that they agree with everything their country has done. They are announcing that they believe in the foundation that the country is based on, with “liberty and justice for all.” That is something that all Americans should value.

However, the solution is not to require students to stand. They should continue to have the right to remain seated, but they should fully understand what it means to deviate from the standard practice.

The Pledge was originally intended to incite patriotism in school-age Americans. It was first crafted in the late 19th century, the Civil War was long since over and the country became more unified than ever. The tradition has lived on to now, where Americans still disagree over thousands of issues, but yet, the vast majority still trusts in the basis of the system.

Even though it may be legal to sit out the Pledge, take 15 seconds to stand up and respect the country that provides for and protects its people. It is not about the words “under God,” it is not about idolatry, and it certainly is not a contract to agree with everything the United States has done. It is about appreciating the liberty and justice that the United States values in the highest regard.

Do you think students should be able to choose to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?

• Yes
• No
• I don't care
• Who cares

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