The Land of The Free

The Supreme Court ruled more than 50 years ago that public schools can't force students to recite the pledge of allegiance. But can they make them stand during the pledge? Rachel Morris, a student at Silverbrook Middle School in West Bend, Wisconsin, says she has been singled out by the administration for refusing to stand during the pledge. She says that her teacher asked her repeatedly why she did not stand and would not accept that she didn't have to say why. The principal later called her to the office and urged her to stand. Then a message was sent over the intercom to the whole school saying "The reason we stand is to honor our country." School officials say they did not mean to pressure Morris or embarrass her in front of her classmates.