The Pledge Of Allegiance: An American Sentiment or Violation of The Separation of Church and State?

“I SAID STOPPP!!” bellowed from behind me. I looked at the few other kids lingering in the hall around me; all of us shared the same bewildered expression. The woman screaming was a hall-monitoring teacher who was angered by our lack of attention for the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The pledge booms through the speakers every morning shortly after the first-period bell rings. Most days, I’ve already made it to first period by then, where I remain seated respectfully while a few classmates stand for the pledge. I, however, never stand. I will not stand for a country that is failing to stand for me. 

However, on that particular morning, I had an errand to run, so instead of being in class for the pledge, I was walking in the hallway, just feet away from my first-period room. When the pledge started on the speakers, I paid no mind to it, simply continued walking quietly to class, as did many of my peers in the surrounding halls. At that moment, a teacher began screaming furiously, demanding that we stop for the pledge. Why I must stop to observe a pledge to a country I have so much hatred for, I’m not sure; and after further thought, what I became even more unsure of is how the Pledge of Allegiance is even allowed in schools in the first place?

The Pledge of Allegiance is a direct violation of the separation of church and state, as established in Everson V. Board of Education (1947). The ruling declared a strict distinction between the church and state, which, put simply, means that there should not be religious integration in public school systems (except for when teaching religion in a historical, objective manner for educational purposes). 

For those unaware, the following is the United States Pledge of Allegiance: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” 

The simple fact that the pledge mentions God is enough to constitute a violation of the separation of church and state. Additionally, it would be negligent for one to dismiss the pledge’s religious language as nothing more than just an American sentiment with no real religious ties, because it wasn’t even until 1954, under the direction of President Eisenhower, that the words “under God” were added. In a historical context, this places the religious addition to the pledge seven years after the ruling of Everson V. Board of Education. 

Moreover, per section four of the Flag Code, “The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag…should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform, men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.” The religious fervor of the Pledge of Allegiance is undoubtedly present, so what I ask then: Why is the Pledge of Allegiance not only allowed in schools, but oftentimes mandated, and students who choose not to observe it are subject to reprimand? 

While four states—Arizona, Wyoming, Vermont, and Hawaii—do not require the pledge to be recited during school, the remaining states do, with various levels of enforcement. For example, in the Bible Belt states of Florida and Texas (where I’m from!), the only way students are exempt from reciting the pledge is if they have a written statement from a parent or guardian. However, in less religious states, such as Virginia, students are not compelled to recite or stand during the pledge; they are only required to remain silent during its duration. Varying regional enforcement of the pledge, comparing the Bible Belt states to northern, less religious states, only further supports the argument that the pledge is distinctively religious. 

What’s more is that even if students are not required to say the pledge, the religious, Christian-favoring nature of it makes for an uncomfortable and biased environment for students. An article published on February 26, 2025, by Pew Research Center concluded that only 62% of American Adults identify as Christian, evidencing that the inclusion of a Christianity-based pledge is only relevant to a fraction of the population. How do schools accommodate the other 42%? What reason do schools have for continuing to include the Pledge of Allegiance when data proves that 42% of this nation is, in fact, not under God?

In conclusion, the actions of the screaming teacher were unjustified and inappropriate. I am not compelled to do anything more during the Pledge of Allegiance than remain quiet, which I was doing. Moreover, the institution of the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools is a direct violation of the separation of church and state, and, in my opinion, per the Everson V. Board of Education ruling, it should not be played in our schools. If a student/family wishes to participate in a religiously affiliated school program, so be it- there are many private schools to accommodate such people- but religion, including the Pledge of Allegiance, has no place in our schools. 

As always, don’t wait for change, be the changemaker.

-Lyn Jones