BROOKLINE, Mass. – A battle is brewing in Brookline, Mass. over the Pledge of Allegiance.
Martin Rosenthal, one of the members who wants the pledge to be gone, said the recital is outdated.
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"One group is pushing to have the pledge banned in public schools. The ultimate issue is there is a tolerance and it's bad for education and even bad for patriotism," Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal is an attorney and former selectman and has filed a petition for the town meeting in November that urges the school committee to discontinue the pledge of allegiance.
"I don't think patriotism is loyalty to the symbol of the flag. I think patriotism is being loyal to the principles that this wonderful country stands for," Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal objects not only to the language in the pledge but also the setting in which it is often recited. a small classroom where students who chose not to participate in the voluntary oath may feel ostracized.
"There is no such thing as a voluntary loyalty oath for 6-year-olds," Rosenthal said.
Brookline's current policy offers a weekly recital during morning announcements, and states in part, "We believe that no member of the school community can be compelled by policy to recite or lead a recitation of the pledge of allegiance." That policy was changed last year because the previous language obligated teachers to lead a daily recital which the SJC ruled unconstitutional.
The school committee chair stand by the current policy.
"The school committee will revisit this policy, if and only if, a member of the school board who voted for the policy last year brings it to the committee for reconsideration, said School Committee Chair, Rebecca Stone.