On November 10th, Principal Kerry Lane led Olathe East to say the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time in years. 

According to a statute that was put in place in 2012 by the Kansas Legislature(72-5308), it requires, “a daily recitation of the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.” Even though this law has been established for over 10 years, many districts were ignoring it. It came to attention earlier this year that many students had not said the pledge since middle school. 

I don’t believe that saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day has any impact on our lives or the school. Since the pledge recites, “under God,” students who aren’t religious or don’t worship God, feel as if this isn’t representing them. Francis Bellamy, the writer of The Pledge of Allegiance, did not include the words, “under God,” when it was originally produced. In 1954, President Eisenhower motivated Congress to add it, in response to Communist threats. Bellamy’s’ daughter did not approve of the alteration, but it still was added. 

Even though no student technically has to say the pledge, if they are the only one in a classroom not doing it, it might make them feel even more uncomfortable. I rarely recite the Pledge of Allegiance because the pledge doesn’t make me honor our country, it makes me think about all the terrible things happening daily in our country.