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'We Stand For The Pledge': Florida 6-Year-Old Ordered To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance After Kneeling
'We Stand For The Pledge': Florida 6-Year-Old Ordered To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance After Kneeling
Source: WUFT News

'We Stand For The Pledge': Florida 6-Year-Old Ordered To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance After Kneeling

'We Stand For The Pledge': Florida 6-Year-Old Ordered To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance After Kneeling Source: WUFT News

A Florida mother has come to the defense of her six-year-old son after a teacher made him stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance.

In a report from ABC News, Eugenia McDowell said that her son was kneeling during the daily pledge at Wiregrass Elementary School in Wesley Chapel, Florida, and was notified by the child's teacher via text message.

READ: Michigan Teacher Assaults 6th-Grader For Not Standing During Pledge Of Allegiance

"I knew where he had seen it [going down on one knee], but I did tell him that in the classroom, we are learning what it means to be a good citizen, we're learning about respecting the United States of America and our country symbols and showing loyalty and patriotism and that we stand for the Pledge of Allegiance," the text read.

McDowell said she did not know her son was going to kneel but she still disagrees with the school's handling of the situation, saying that the move stifled his voice and freedom of speech. However, according to school policy, a student must have a written letter from a parent notifying the school that the student does not plan to say the Pledge of Allegiance. This stems from a Florida law where the state allows students to be excused from "reciting the pledge, including standing and placing the right hand over his or her heart," as long as a written request from a parent is made.

McDowell said she was not aware of that policy but does not plan on sending in a letter regardless.

"What he did was have a difference of opinion. He was not being disrespectful. He was silently protesting and exercising his constitutional right," McDowell said. "My concern is she infringed upon his constitutional right to express himself, to protest peacefully, and she also made him feel like his decision to come up with his own opinion about things was the wrong thing to do."

Following the incident, McDowell's had arranged a meeting with the school's principal and her son's teacher. However, her son has since been assigned to a new teacher. Still, McDowell plans to talk with the principal in hopes of starting a conversation highlighting the importance of respecting children's rights to express themselves in a peaceful manner.

Source: abcnews.com