As a Royal Oak High School student, I think it's unnecessary to recite the pledge. Teachers are already struggling to fit their lesson plans into fifty-seven minute class periods, and this law would strain them even more.

I think it's a good idea in elementary and in history/social study classes. However, I don't feel it needs to be made a law.

I think its a good idea because maybe students will ponder over the verse
"and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands" and learn that we don't live in a democracy !

The article misquoted. That would be one nation "UNDER GOD" indivisible.......

This is a good idea, however the state government is over stepping their boundaries to mandate all state public schools to say the pledge. I believe the school districts need to make this decision.

Why exactly should the government pass a law that requires citizens to recite a pledge? Even if the student has the right to "opt out" of saying it (I think they already have that right), the government should never be mandating that its citizens recite anything daily. I agree if schools want to do it, then they should do it. If schools don't do it, that's fine too, and parents can petition the school to start doing it, if they feel it is that necessary. There's no reason to make it law though.

This is completely nuts.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." - Establishment Clause, First Amendment of U.S. Constitution

When the Pledge of Allegiance was changed on 1954 to include the words "under God", they respected all monotheistic establishments of religion (with Christianity in general, in mind.) While students are not required to recite it, they are placed in a setting where they are compelled to. The addition also respects monotheistic religions by implying that the U.S. itself is officially monotheistic, when in fact, there is no official religion of the country. While most of the Founding Fathers were Christian, they were wise enough to avoid favoring one religion or set of religions over another.

As a Christian (as many people here are), imagine if the pledge said "One nation under Allah", or "One nation under Buddha". You now have a better idea of what it's like for those who are Buddhists, atheists/non-religious, polytheists (i.e. Hindu), etc. to be pressured to recite "One nation under God".

But religious aspect aside, there is also little sense into having... kindergartners recite the Pledge. At that age, almost everyone in the class can't even pronounce the words to the Pledge, much less comprehend the slightest bit of what it means.

If we don't make pledging allegiance to God mandatory, how will the terrorists NOT win? I ask you.

A complete waste of time and excuse to force religion into schools but few politicians are going to vote "against America." The God phrase was only added as an afterthought during the Commie scare in the 50s. The Pledge of Allegiance has its place but don't force it. Let local school boards run their schools. Let local school boards engage in representative democracy and fund their schools locally, bargain locally and make their own P of A decisions. Remember when Republicans pushed for local control? Those days are gone.

The idea of taking time to make the pledge manditory is a function of the local school board. We talk here about the pledge which I believe is a good thing but why aren't talking about Senate Bill 59 which is going to make concealed weapons legal in schools, churches, bars etc. if passed. I would urge everyone to contact their state Senator and state Representative to voice their disapproval of this bill.

No law is necessary. Why don't school districts already have a moment set aside for recitation of the Pledge? Why should there be any fuss about a few students who do not participate?

If there is no time for the Pledge in a school, then we might ask administrators why this is so. Then we'll get to watch them squirm as they grovel for one silly excuse or another. But they are "broadminded" folks, of course.

Good grief! When will our legislatures get around to solving our real problems when they spend their time on such silliness. Most schools already do this, at least every public school I've ever worked in or known about. Where do you think most kids learn the pledge in the first place? It may not be everyday or every grade level but it is taught and recited, sometimes in individual classes or over the school PA.

It's a shame that this has to be legislated. The school districts should make this part of their curriculum. Teachers should included the benefits of living in this country in their daily lesson plans. Students need to learn about this country so that they have a better understanding of our laws, our heritage and our place in the world.

Any bill attempting to compel schoolchildren to salute the flag is unconstitutional, per the U.S. Supreme Court's 1943 decision "West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette."

From Justice Robert Jackson's majority opinion: "If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."

In their concurring opinion, Justices Hugo Black and William O. Douglas wrote: "Words uttered under coercion are proof of loyalty to nothing but self-interest, Love of country must spring from willing hearts and free minds, inspired by a fair administration of wise laws enacted by the people's elected representatives within the bounds of express constitutional prohibitions."

Finally, back to Justice Jackson: "To believe that patriotism will not flourish if patriotic ceremonies are voluntary and spontaneous instead of a compulsory routine is to make an unflattering estimate of the appeal of our institutions to free minds."

The key here is that Barnette was decided on the basis of the Free Speech clause, NOT the Establishment Clause. The phrase "under God" is not relevant to understand how wrong-headed GOP legislators are in this effort. And it's THEIR effort: House Democrats voted 'yes' because A) They couldn't prevent it; and 2) To avoid creating an "issue" for voters.

This is what the Republican legislature is doing with its time. I thought Michigan
needed jobs.

What’s wrong with kids saying the Pledge of Allegiance? I wonder how many kids even know it these days. I think we need to get some values back into the schools and teach the children pride in America in spite of some of the shortcomings that are taking place across the country. People used to fly the flag and be proud. It would be great to see that happen again.

This is just a political trick. Let kids say "and to the REPUBLIC, for which it stands" over and over again, so that whenit comes time to vote, they will associate the word with REPUBLICAN and thus vote that way in the future. Democrats will look unpatriotic if they vote against it. This should be handled at the district level. And most schools I know already say it.