Texas Attorney General Defends Law Forcing Kids To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance

[Bootney Lee Farnsworth]

The Texas school system already censors recent history, history that is still making headlines. So Paxton's "enforced patriotism" as part of the curriculum is not surprising for such a backward-thinking state.

Go fuck yourself.

 

[candycorn]

Conservatives want a small government...small enough to fit in your bedroom, classroom, bathroom etc...

Who really cares if she stands or sits? I would wager that if you were to give kids in Texas a pop quiz on what they are actually doing when they say the pledge of allegiance most likely couldn't tell you.

 

[The Purge]

Ken Paxton says he’s watching out for parental rights by intervening in a lawsuit over a student who refused to stand.

The Texas attorney general has jumped into a Houston area lawsuit to defend a state law that requires schoolchildren to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance unless a parent or guardian opts them out.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday that his office has moved to intervene in the suit brought on behalf of former Windfern High School student India Landry last year.

Landry, then 17, accused the Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District and several of its officials of violating her First Amendment rights when they suspended her for refusing to stand during the pledge.

Amid nationwide protests over race relations and police brutality in America, Landry, who is black, said she took issue with this line in the pledge: “With liberty and justice for all.”

“It’s not obviously what’s going on in America today,” she told Houston station KHOU last October.

Paxton argued in his statement that requiring the pledge to be recited at school fosters “respect for our flag and a patriotic love of our country.” He said, “School children cannot unilaterally refuse to participate in the pledge.”

The Republican attorney general noted that the state law allows students to opt out of the pledge if they submit written permission from a parent or guardian. He said leaving that decision up to parents respects their rights.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly held that parents have a fundamental interest in guiding the education and upbringing of their children, which is a critical aspect of liberty guaranteed by the Constitution,” Paxton said. “The Texas Legislature protected that interest by giving the choice of whether an individual student will recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the student’s parent or guardian.”

Although the Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that the state cannot force public school children to recite the pledge, Paxton pointed to a 2008 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit involving a similar Florida law, which held that protecting parents’ rights to some control over their children’s education can justify some restrictions on the First Amendment rights of those children.

"School children cannot unilaterally refuse to participate in the pledge."
--Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton​

More: TX Attorney General Defends Law Forcing Kids To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance

I think this is scary - and unconstitutional. No one should be forced or legally compelled to stand or participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. What do you think?

Yet you loved being forced to buy obozocare...fucking stupid bastard!

 

[XponentialChaos]

How should we promote pride in our national freedom? By forcing people to pretend to be proud of the country that removes their freedom.

Makes sense.

 

[BuckToothMoron]

Ken Paxton says he’s watching out for parental rights by intervening in a lawsuit over a student who refused to stand.

The Texas attorney general has jumped into a Houston area lawsuit to defend a state law that requires schoolchildren to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance unless a parent or guardian opts them out.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday that his office has moved to intervene in the suit brought on behalf of former Windfern High School student India Landry last year.

Landry, then 17, accused the Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District and several of its officials of violating her First Amendment rights when they suspended her for refusing to stand during the pledge.

Amid nationwide protests over race relations and police brutality in America, Landry, who is black, said she took issue with this line in the pledge: “With liberty and justice for all.”

“It’s not obviously what’s going on in America today,” she told Houston station KHOU last October.

Paxton argued in his statement that requiring the pledge to be recited at school fosters “respect for our flag and a patriotic love of our country.” He said, “School children cannot unilaterally refuse to participate in the pledge.”

The Republican attorney general noted that the state law allows students to opt out of the pledge if they submit written permission from a parent or guardian. He said leaving that decision up to parents respects their rights.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly held that parents have a fundamental interest in guiding the education and upbringing of their children, which is a critical aspect of liberty guaranteed by the Constitution,” Paxton said. “The Texas Legislature protected that interest by giving the choice of whether an individual student will recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the student’s parent or guardian.”

Although the Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that the state cannot force public school children to recite the pledge, Paxton pointed to a 2008 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit involving a similar Florida law, which held that protecting parents’ rights to some control over their children’s education can justify some restrictions on the First Amendment rights of those children.

"School children cannot unilaterally refuse to participate in the pledge."
--Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton​

More: TX Attorney General Defends Law Forcing Kids To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance

I think this is scary - and unconstitutional. No one should be forced or legally compelled to stand or participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. What do you think?

It’s Texas, they can pass laws for Texans, and her parents can opt her out. I don’t agree with the law, but I support Texas to make the laws they see fit. Another thread on this forum wanted me to denounce California for trying to pass rent control. California can tell building owners what to charge, and Texas can tell parents their child will stand for the pledge unless the parents don’t want them to. All fine with me.

 

[Lakhota]

`
a) I cannot recall ever doing the pledge of allegiance in high school except at pep rallies.

b) Up until 1941, the US used the Bellamy Salute.
`

`
`​

Heil America!

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Ken Paxton says he’s watching out for parental rights by intervening in a lawsuit over a student who refused to stand.

The Texas attorney general has jumped into a Houston area lawsuit to defend a state law that requires schoolchildren to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance unless a parent or guardian opts them out.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday that his office has moved to intervene in the suit brought on behalf of former Windfern High School student India Landry last year.

Landry, then 17, accused the Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District and several of its officials of violating her First Amendment rights when they suspended her for refusing to stand during the pledge.

Amid nationwide protests over race relations and police brutality in America, Landry, who is black, said she took issue with this line in the pledge: “With liberty and justice for all.”

“It’s not obviously what’s going on in America today,” she told Houston station KHOU last October.

Paxton argued in his statement that requiring the pledge to be recited at school fosters “respect for our flag and a patriotic love of our country.” He said, “School children cannot unilaterally refuse to participate in the pledge.”

The Republican attorney general noted that the state law allows students to opt out of the pledge if they submit written permission from a parent or guardian. He said leaving that decision up to parents respects their rights.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly held that parents have a fundamental interest in guiding the education and upbringing of their children, which is a critical aspect of liberty guaranteed by the Constitution,” Paxton said. “The Texas Legislature protected that interest by giving the choice of whether an individual student will recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the student’s parent or guardian.”

Although the Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that the state cannot force public school children to recite the pledge, Paxton pointed to a 2008 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit involving a similar Florida law, which held that protecting parents’ rights to some control over their children’s education can justify some restrictions on the First Amendment rights of those children.

"School children cannot unilaterally refuse to participate in the pledge."
--Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton​

More: TX Attorney General Defends Law Forcing Kids To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance

I think this is scary - and unconstitutional. No one should be forced or legally compelled to stand or participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. What do you think?

It’s yet another example of the authoritarian right seeking to compel conformity.

And the Texas law is clearly enacted in bad faith, having nothing to do with ‘protecting’ parents’ rights.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Ken Paxton says he’s watching out for parental rights by intervening in a lawsuit over a student who refused to stand.

The Texas attorney general has jumped into a Houston area lawsuit to defend a state law that requires schoolchildren to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance unless a parent or guardian opts them out.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday that his office has moved to intervene in the suit brought on behalf of former Windfern High School student India Landry last year.

Landry, then 17, accused the Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District and several of its officials of violating her First Amendment rights when they suspended her for refusing to stand during the pledge.

Amid nationwide protests over race relations and police brutality in America, Landry, who is black, said she took issue with this line in the pledge: “With liberty and justice for all.”

“It’s not obviously what’s going on in America today,” she told Houston station KHOU last October.

Paxton argued in his statement that requiring the pledge to be recited at school fosters “respect for our flag and a patriotic love of our country.” He said, “School children cannot unilaterally refuse to participate in the pledge.”

The Republican attorney general noted that the state law allows students to opt out of the pledge if they submit written permission from a parent or guardian. He said leaving that decision up to parents respects their rights.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly held that parents have a fundamental interest in guiding the education and upbringing of their children, which is a critical aspect of liberty guaranteed by the Constitution,” Paxton said. “The Texas Legislature protected that interest by giving the choice of whether an individual student will recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the student’s parent or guardian.”

Although the Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that the state cannot force public school children to recite the pledge, Paxton pointed to a 2008 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit involving a similar Florida law, which held that protecting parents’ rights to some control over their children’s education can justify some restrictions on the First Amendment rights of those children.

"School children cannot unilaterally refuse to participate in the pledge."
--Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton​

More: TX Attorney General Defends Law Forcing Kids To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance

I think this is scary - and unconstitutional. No one should be forced or legally compelled to stand or participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. What do you think?

I would much prefer that kids wanted to stand to the flag, versus being forced too. Are we turning into North Korea?

No, not ‘we’ – just Republican-controlled states.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Conservatives want a small government...small enough to fit in your bedroom, classroom, bathroom etc...

Who really cares if she stands or sits? I would wager that if you were to give kids in Texas a pop quiz on what they are actually doing when they say the pledge of allegiance most likely couldn't tell you.

Republican state lawmakers must really care, hence their support of this idiotic measure.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

Mental.

 

[candycorn]

Conservatives want a small government...small enough to fit in your bedroom, classroom, bathroom etc...

Who really cares if she stands or sits? I would wager that if you were to give kids in Texas a pop quiz on what they are actually doing when they say the pledge of allegiance most likely couldn't tell you.

Republican state lawmakers must really care, hence their support of this idiotic measure.

Yes they do. That Timmy or Tammy can't tell you what the pledge of allegiance means? Not so much.

 

[SmokeALib]

Just another reason to not send your kids to public schools.

 

[EverCurious]

I was suspended from school because I refused to say "under God" during the pledge. I still stood and all that. The district said the school couldn't suspend me for religious reasons heh

 

[theHawk]

Run with that libs. Tell America just how much you hate the pledge of allegiance. Just like the anthem kneelers, you’ll be a smash hit on Election Day.

Just because you Russia loving CON$ hate FREEDOM, doesn't mean real American true blue Liberals hate FREEDOM like you do.

Russia loving? Where do you come up with this shit? What does if have to do with the pledge of allegiance? Would you rather kids take a pledge of treason towards the United States?

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Just because you Russia loving CON$ hate FREEDOM, doesn't mean real American true blue Liberals hate FREEDOM like you do.

Yes, you do. You all hate freedoms you don't agree with.

 

[edthecynic]

Yet you loved being forced to buy obozocare...fucking stupid bastard!

No one was "forced" to but health insurance, you could pay a small fine instead...you lying scum POS!

 

[edthecynic]

Just because you Russia loving CON$ hate FREEDOM, doesn't mean real American true blue Liberals hate FREEDOM like you do.

Yes, you do. You all hate freedoms you don't agree with.

Thank you for admitting you CON$ hate the freedoms you don't agree with.

 

[The Purge]

Yet you loved being forced to buy obozocare...fucking stupid bastard!

No one was "forced" to but health insurance, you could pay a small fine instead...you lying scum POS!

Gee Edward, paying a FINE that got higher each year isn't forcing you....my GOD, these ABNORMALS do get dumber with each post....LOLOLOL!

 

[dudmuck]

Conservatives love personal responsibility.
Also known as "individual mandate"
created by conservatives. obama just followed your advice.

 

[Wyatt earp]

Yet you loved being forced to buy obozocare...fucking stupid bastard!

No one was "forced" to but health insurance, you could pay a small fine instead...you lying scum POS!

A small fine?


That's vacation money for us poor folks Mr. Money bags


.