Student Braves Controversy, Refuses to Recite Pledge
Categories: In The News, Education, Amazing Kids
"Liberty and justice for all?"
Will Phillips doesn't believe that describes America for its gay and lesbian citizens. He's a 10-year-old at West Fork Elementary School in Arkansas, about three hours east of Oklahoma City. Given his beliefs, he refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, specifically because that one phrase, "liberty and justice for all," he says, does not truly apply to all.
That did not go over well with the substitute teacher in his fifth-grade classroom.
The Arkansas Times reports that he started refusing to say the pledge Mon., Oct. 5. By Thursday, the substitute was steamed. She told Will she knew his mother and grandmother and they would want him to recite the pledge.
Will told the Times the substitute got more and more upset. She raised her voice. By this point, Will told the newspaper, he started losing his cool too, adding: "After a few minutes, I said, 'With all due respect ma'am, go jump off a bridge.'"
Would your child refuse to recite the Pledge of Allegiance? Credit: Getty Images
That got him sent to the principal's office. The principal made him look up information about the flag and what it represents. Meanwhile, there was the inevitable call to his mother.
At first, mom Laura Phillips told the Times, the principal talked about Will telling a substitute to jump off a bridge. When pressed, the principal admitted the whole incident was sparked by the boy exercising his constitutional right not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Phillips suggested an apology was in order -- from the teacher. When the principal said that wasn't necessary, Will's mother started venting to friends via Twitter. Those friends, in turn, told the news media. And what would have been a minor classroom incident has people throughout Arkansas and beyond choosing sides.
As for Will, he continues to exercise his right to remain silent. It can be rough at times, he and his family admit. He has his share of supporters, however, his critics are louder and nastier -- especially because he took his stand to defend gay rights.
"In the lunchroom and in the hallway, they've been making comments and doing pranks, calling me gay," he told the Times. "It's always the same people, walking up and calling me a gaywad."
Nonetheless, Will told the paper, he is sticking to his convictions. A reporter for the paper asked Will -- with all this talk about patriotism and the pledge -- what he thinks it means to be an American.
"Freedom of speech," he responded. "The freedom to disagree. That's what I think pretty much being an American represents."
His mother is proud.
"He's probably more aware of the meaning of the pledge that a lot of adults," Phillips told the Times.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 149)
jwg 11-13-2009 @ 5:13PM
Not to point out the obvious, but there was a Supreme Court decision in the 60's that makes your poll moot. The child has a constitutional right not to recite the pledge.
Reply
Tom Henderson 11-13-2009 @ 9:27PM
The Supreme Court case was Minersville School District v. Gobitis in 1940. Justices ruled children did not have to recite the pledge against their personal or religious convictions. The case was brought by Jehovah's Witnesses who saw the pledge and flag salute as forms of idolatry. This led to increased hostility toward members of the denomination. -- Tom Henderson
Truth 11-14-2009 @ 7:06AM
A footnote that few Americans realize: There have only been two nations in all of world history where students recited a pledge of allegiance - Nazi Germany and the United States. Even the USSR and Mao's China only had children recite a pledge as part of their graduation ceremony - not every single day. If you grew up in America, this all seems perfectly normal to you - just as seeing the flag hanging from houses and office buildings seems normal. You call it patriotic pride. In reality it is just part of a gigantic propaganda campaign. So what is the problem with it? Take a look around. Instead of America learning from other nations who have solved many of your problems, you insist that you are the "best nation in the world" even while being the biggest debtor nation in the history of the planet, with the most prisoners in the history of the planet (more than China and Russia combined) and among the worst educational system in the world - #26 out of 29 nations (2009 PISA rankings - the most recognized and respected authority on global education standards).
Aaron L. 11-14-2009 @ 7:08AM
Even though this is true, because I believe the politicians have lost what the Fathers of our country felt how the country should be run. However, even though i do Stand out of respect for the flag, I do not put my hand over my heart. I am now known as a "terroist", and other names.
bill 11-14-2009 @ 8:12AM
throw his ass out of this country along with his parents
Kelly 11-14-2009 @ 7:24AM
Truth - Okay, let's discuss a few differences though. We are allowed to decide if we want to put up flags or say the pledge, in Nazi Germany, it was required at the risk of lord only knows what dangers. We have more people in jail than China? Well, we don't just randomly kill them, here we allow for Due Process. Does it lead to people who SHOULD be gone sitting on death row for years? Yep, but it's one of the things that is seen as great about this country. Everyone has a chance for a fair day in court. Biggest debtor nation? Not too long ago, we were the nation that others were indebted to. So, we got off track. Things happen. I can guarantee that whatever country you are from (as you make it clear you aren't an American with your "your problems" type of comments) has had it's share of ups and downs. As for education, well, that's just something we have to deal with and fix. Again, every country has had pitfalls. Hopefully we can pull ourselves up and fix our issues and rise to the greatness we once had... interestingly enough, before the current "PC" mentality...
Tom Y 11-14-2009 @ 7:41AM
As a Marine I fought for his freedom to decide what is right in his mind.
But just remember, if it were not for men and women who fought to give him the right to be free he would not have any freedom.And when you salute the flag your saying thank you to all came before you to give you your freedom to say no. SEMPER FI
Nathan 11-14-2009 @ 7:56AM
Yes he has a constitutional right not to say the pledge, but he could at least show some respect and stand up. I too believe that the United States has a lot of injustice, but that doesnt mean that I won't respect the men and women who laid down thier life for me to HAVE the right to make my own decisions (including whether or not to say the pledge).
tinman2009 11-14-2009 @ 9:40AM
That case does not apply in Arkansas.
RICHARD 11-14-2009 @ 8:31AM
WHY DON'T THESE TRAITORS GO LIVE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THESE UN-AMERICAN BASTARDS. IT'S TIME US REAL AMERICANS WHO LOVE THIS COUNTRY TAKE IT BACK FROM THESE FREAKS.
sieben13 11-15-2009 @ 5:05AM
Great american you are , love it or leave it
Eric 11-14-2009 @ 9:15AM
actually as a minor i'm not sure what actual rights he has.
doktarbob 11-14-2009 @ 9:11AM
You are correct , he does have the right not to say the pledge of allegiance. However even with all due respect in some states telling someone to jump off a bridge can also be a crime.Sounds to me like the kid is getting the attention he craves but it is also probably for the wrong reason. Many things in the constitutionhave been ammended. do you honestly feel this was a right thing or just a thing of the 60's. Sorry but my feeling is if you don't agree with or like the USA then get the hell out and see who will want you. This kid is 10, maybe thinks he is gay and now has national attention. All that has been said is he refused, what is the reason this 10yr old has that validates this. Some time we have to stop giving in to all this petty crud from the very minority or within a short time there will be no USA.
Joanne 11-14-2009 @ 9:20AM
Come on!! His decision to abstain, his mother decision to twitter madly were their expression of free speech....which I am sure they are happy about. With that decision comes judgement from others who like to express theirs. It also probably totally distrupted the school.
The pledge is honoring the country and it's beginnings. If you don't like it and don't like what your country stands for, then you are also free to MOVE. But, to make such a huge deal out of a little boy not partaking in the class.........what's next? Not doing his homework or not reciting lines to a book report because he fundamentally disagrees? geesh.
Our school said the pledge with veterans the other day. The children sang. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. Why, because it joins us. It connects us. It gives you a sense of pride and unity.
But, there will always be those who want to divide and conquer. Thank goodness they are still the minority.
This parent should tell their child too keep their disrespectful mouth quiet in school and NOT to talk back to their teacher! That's what they are really teaching him.......
AND the person who wrote this article..........shame! Calling the kid brave!? What about disrespectful? The teacher was only doing her job.........
nkiam 11-14-2009 @ 9:15AM
Who made the rule that if you are born in the United States you have to salute a flag? WE don't OWN this country, God does, as all others. Just because a 10 year old chooses not to salute a piece of cloth doesn't mean he is being disrespectful to anyone who has lost their life in a war. People need to quit being such narcicists and maybe do something to make the WORLD a better place instead of bitching and complaining over the rights of a human being being able to make his own decisions.
Joe 11-14-2009 @ 9:35AM
This kid is obviously being USED by adults to further the gay agenda. What kind of straight 10 year old boy with two heterosexual parents just decides one day to disobey his teachers and face ridicule from every other classmate to support homosexuals?? He's being led into this and it's unfair to him.
This isn't the first time and won't be the last . . even civil rights "leaders" like rosa parks were not acting on their own, but being led by others. She sat where she sat because she was told to in order to further the civil rights agenda, and this is much of the same. The questions is - if it's not his parents using him then who is it?
harry 11-14-2009 @ 9:42AM
Hold on a minute folks, we forget about the seperation of search and religion, schools in pennsylvania have stopped saying the pledge due to it stating ONE NATION UNDER GOD, also if you take notice our dear old goverment which we prodly trust, by a persedential order has started removing IN GOD WE TRUST from our coins and bills. And justice, that is nothing but a big friggin joke anymore, has a state senitor bilk a museum out of millions of dollars and only get a few years(2) in jail, while the museum president got 15 to 19 years...the kid is right, read the words, if he was a muslum, that would be ok. i am a us military vet, i beleave in our country, and out flad and our pledges, yet we vote idiots in the take free rain ober our beleafs and do what they please, then want to persucute people and kids for there beleafs
mare 11-14-2009 @ 9:47AM
This kid will be a perfect candiadate for the Peace Corp in a few years , let him see what other coutnries are like and maybe he will be glad to stand up and Pledge Alligance when he returns , he will never be cadidate to serve in the Armed Forces.
paula 11-14-2009 @ 9:50AM
I agree. Using Patriotism to take away Freedoms is the most unpatriotic thing I can imagine.
I am proud to be an American and would be proud to have that boy as my son.
nothingbutblueskies 11-14-2009 @ 9:46AM
The words coming out of this childs mouth are his parents......for what ever reason....they are teaching him disrespect and I hope that he is removed from the school and his parents are ran out of the country. What a disgusting example of parenting. They can take their brat child, their gay rights, their disrespect for our country and leave, give up their citizenship as they must do and rot in another country. Be gone with you and your disrespect for our country.