Why Delaware may end requiring students to pledge allegiance to the American flag [View all]

[Delarage]

House Bill 107 by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, would still require that students pledge allegiance to the American flag every school day. But instead of requiring all students to cite the pledge, the bill would let students who don't want to participate to stand silently or stay seated.

If Delaware removes the requirement, it would be in line with a U.S. Supreme Court decision from about 78 years ago.

In the 1943 case, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, the Supreme Court ruled that such a requirement violated First Amendment rights because it forced students to declare a belief.

Baumbach was quick to point that ruling out, arguing that you can't "support the Bill of Rights in pieces."

[link:https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/25/delaware-could-erase-law-requiring-students-pledge-allegiance-flag/4572601001/|

I always thought it was Hitler-youth-like and somewhat un-Christian, actually, to pledge allegiance to an inanimate object.