The Pledge of Allegiance: To stand or not to stand?

Reciting the pledge of allegiance in schools has been a common practice for years, and standing has been used as a mark of respect while performing this ritual. This requirement however, is no more thanks to a law suit filed by a 17 year old student from Boynton Beach High School. The decision to file the suit was made by the teen after his Mathematics teacher berated him in front of the class.

The decision to have students stand when reciting the pledge was deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge, who stated that the constitution allows a student to sit quietly while the pledge is being recited. This period of silence must be honored if the student cites personal or political beliefs as the reason for his or her decision. The judge's decision also extended to the right of students to refuse to say the pledge without first getting the permission of their parents.

While one has the freedom to make decisions not to stand for the pledge, and the issue of reciting the pledge in general was not put to question, an interactive poll on the web page of the Palm Beach Post would suggest that people are not against the pledge being recited in schools.