An Atlanta school has dropped the Pledge of Allegiance from its morning routine for the new school year, saying that too many students and staff members weren’t saying it anyway and they wanted to be inclusive.
The Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, which opened in 2002 in the Grant neighborhood, said Tuesday that the pledge would not be part of its morning ritual this year.
“There are many emotions around this and we want everyone in our school family to start their day in a positive manner,” elementary campus President Lara Zelski said, Fox News reported.
Instead of the Pledge of Allegiance, students will participate in the Wolf Pack Chant, which is a new pledge teachers and students will create together that will “focus on students’ civic responsibility to their school family, community, country, and our global society,” Zelski said, Fox News reported.
Students will be given a chance to say the Pledge of Allegiance at another time during the school day if they so choose, the statement also said.
The move has come during an ongoing controversy about the national anthem as a number of NFL players have chosen not to stand for the flag during the playing of the national anthem before football games.
The NFL instituted a fine in May for players who did not stand for the anthem or remain in the locker room while it is played, but later suspended that rule while players and league leaders continue to discuss it.
Twitter was full of opinions about the decision on both sides.
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