Calif. School District Apologizes to Atheist Student Over Pledge of Allegiance
A school district in California has reportedly agreed to apologize to an atheist student after a teacher allegedly forced him to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.
After receiving pressure from the American Humanist Association, the San Jacinto Unified School District has agreed to apologize to atheist Ivan Covarrubias, an 11-year-old student at Monte Vista Middle School who recently refused to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance in class.
A letter sent to the school district from the atheist organization claims that Covarrubias' teacher, Mr. Burns, made "several improper statements" to the student when the student refused to stand during the Pledge.
"Mr. Burns informed the student, falsely, that the law requires students to stand. Moreover, Mr. Burns questioned the student as to the reason for not participating in the exercise, asking him: 'Is it your religion, do you have a personal problem, or do you hate America?'"
"He then proceeded to makes statements obviously intended to pressure the child into participating, suggesting non-participation shows the child is ungrateful for the opportunities America offers and saying he 'feels sorry' for the child, as if the child's stance is pitiable," The letter reads.
The atheist group requested that the school district apologize to the student and have Mr. Burns remove a banner from his classroom that reportedly reads: "Prayer changes things."
David Niose, legal director of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center, the legal arm of the American Humanist Association, told The Press Enterprise that he is pleased with the outcome of the incident.
"We're pleased that the school district has recognized the rights of students to remain seated during the Pledge, as well as the need to keep references to prayer and other religious practices out of the classroom," he told the media outlet via email.
