She didn’t have to stand in a corner, but a 13-year-old Montgomery County, Md., girl did get booted out of her middle school classroom for refusing to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland is protesting the punishment.
After the girl refused to stand up as her classmates at Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown recited the pledge on Jan. 27, the teacher ordered her to stand in the hallway, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The next day, the teen again refused to stand during the pledge. This time, school security escorted her to a counselor’s office.
"This time the teacher again berated her in front of the entire class and called two school resource officers, who came and dragged her out of the class, and that really is why this is so egregious," said ACLU Maryland attorney Ajmel Quereshi.
An assistant principal at the school has told the girl’s mother the teenager should apologize, according to the AP report. The ACLU maintains that both the U.S. Constitution and state law protect a student’s right not to participate when the pledge is recited in school.
The student's family wants the teacher to apologize and for the incident to be used as a lesson for other teachers at the school.
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A statement from the school's acting principal, Khadija F. Barkley, says the school has apologized for the incident.
"We have apologized to the family involved in this incident," the statment reads. "Out entire Roberto Clemente Middle School staff is committed to building a school where students feel respected and valued. While we fell short this time, it does not lessen our commitment."
The family decided not to file a lawsuit in this case, according to the ACLU.
