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A bill that would have required Washington students to learn the \u201cmeaning and history\u201d of the Pledge of Allegiance has been rejected.<\/p>\n
The legislation, Senate Bill 6205, was proposed by students attending Eatonville Middle School after their teacher learned they did not understand the history of the nation\u2019s Pledge.<\/p>\n
The students and their teacher, Alex Hansen, connected<\/a> with State Senator Jim McCune (R), who sponsored the bill alongside State Senator Phil Fortunato (R).<\/p>\n One student testifying on behalf of the bill said, \u201cStudents disrespect the Pledge, not only at assemblies, but every morning when we say it at the beginning of each day.\u201d He added, \u201cStudents disrespect the Pledge because they do not know what they are pledging for. They do not know the meaning and history of the Pledge of Allegiance \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Another student said, \u201cEvery American should value the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Those are core documents to the founding of America and the law requires that they be taught in public schools.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh my gosh, these kids testifying on behalf of a bill that would teach students the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance is giving me all the hope. pic.twitter.com\/cA00kwZdlu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) January 29, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Student Elijah Whatley shared he was \u201cannoyed\u201d when his friend used the word \u201cravioli\u201d instead of the \u201cactual Pledge words.\u201d <\/p>\n Eatonville Middle School student Elijah Whatley eloquently explains why teaching students the meaning and history of the words of the Pledge of Allegiance is so important to him (SB 6205). #American<\/a><\/p>\n SB 6205 is now unfortunately dead at the hands of Majority Legislative\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/BjAeJp9WUo<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 WA Senate Republicans (@WashingtonSRC) February 19, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The bill did not receive support from Democrats.<\/p>\n Several counties and school boards across the United States have attempted to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from official proceedings.<\/p>\n In 2022, a county supervisor for Dane County, Wisconsin created<\/a> a proposal to remove the Pledge of Allegiance and the word \u201cprayer\u201d from their county board meetings.<\/p>\n Similarly, the school board of Fargo, North Dakota sought to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from meetings because it contains the words, \u201cunder God.\u201d<\/p>\n The phrase did not align with the district\u2019s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) values, according to reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven that the word \u2018God\u2019 in the text of the Pledge of Allegiance is capitalized, the text is clearly referring to the Judeo-Christian God, and therefore, it does not include any other faiths such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism,\u201d said the Board\u2019s Vice President Seth Holden. \u201cThe statement that we are \u2018one nation under God\u2019 is simply an untrue statement,\u201d Holden added. \u201cWe are one nation under many or no gods.\u201d<\/p>\n After nationwide criticism, however, the Fargo Board of Education reversed<\/a> course.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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