Brookline Group Wants To Take Pledge Of Allegiance Out Of Schools
BROOKLINE (CBS) - You've said it so many times, can recite it in your sleep.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag..."
Now one group in Brookline wants to take the Pledge Of Allegiance out of public schools.
"It's bad for education. It's bad for diversity and tolerance, and it's bad for patriotism," says Martin Rosenthal, who's the co-chair of Brookline Pax.
The group was behind a recent change in Brookline's policy last winter, which made the pledge optional and not required.
Now he wants to take it a step further, with an all-out ban.
"What do you say to a 6-year-old? We're going to do a Pledge Of Allegiance to the flag of the United States and you don't have to participate? What does a 6-year-old think?"
There's no shortage of residents who'll debate his point.
"I think it's a piece of our American society and we should always have a piece of that in school," says 7th grader Alex Stameris.
WBZ-TV's Christina Hager reports
His mother agrees. "I think we should say it every day and we should be proud of it."
Brookline town meeting members will vote on the issue in November.
If it passes, it won't be binding, just a suggestion for the school board to consider.
School Committee Chair Rebecca Stone says it's unlikely the board will revise the pledge policy again.
