A bill that would have required Washington students to learn the “meaning and history” of the Pledge of Allegiance has been rejected.
The legislation, Senate Bill 6205, was proposed by students attending Eatonville Middle School after their teacher learned they did not understand the history of the nation’s Pledge.
The students and their teacher, Alex Hansen, connected with State Senator Jim McCune (R), who sponsored the bill alongside State Senator Phil Fortunato (R).
One student testifying on behalf of the bill said, “Students disrespect the Pledge, not only at assemblies, but every morning when we say it at the beginning of each day.” He added, “Students disrespect the Pledge because they do not know what they are pledging for. They do not know the meaning and history of the Pledge of Allegiance …”
Another student said, “Every American should value the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Those are core documents to the founding of America and the law requires that they be taught in public schools.”
Oh my gosh, these kids testifying on behalf of a bill that would teach students the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance is giving me all the hope. pic.twitter.com/cA00kwZdlu
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) January 29, 2024
Student Elijah Whatley shared he was “annoyed” when his friend used the word “ravioli” instead of the “actual Pledge words.”
Eatonville Middle School student Elijah Whatley eloquently explains why teaching students the meaning and history of the words of the Pledge of Allegiance is so important to him (SB 6205). #American
— WA Senate Republicans (@WashingtonSRC) February 19, 2024
SB 6205 is now unfortunately dead at the hands of Majority Legislative… pic.twitter.com/BjAeJp9WUo
The bill did not receive support from Democrats.
Several counties and school boards across the United States have attempted to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from official proceedings.
In 2022, a county supervisor for Dane County, Wisconsin created a proposal to remove the Pledge of Allegiance and the word “prayer” from their county board meetings.
Similarly, the school board of Fargo, North Dakota sought to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from meetings because it contains the words, “under God.”
The phrase did not align with the district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) values, according to reports.
“Given that the word ‘God’ in the text of the Pledge of Allegiance is capitalized, the text is clearly referring to the Judeo-Christian God, and therefore, it does not include any other faiths such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism,” said the Board’s Vice President Seth Holden. “The statement that we are ‘one nation under God’ is simply an untrue statement,” Holden added. “We are one nation under many or no gods.”
After nationwide criticism, however, the Fargo Board of Education reversed course.
