>>> February 7 , 2002

Resistance is futile
APerhaps a school uniform of brown shirts is in order for an Adairsville, Georgia high school whose administration suspended a pair of juniors for refusing to stand with the rest of the class and take the Pledge of Allegiance.
One student explained that she didn’t believe in God. The other didn’t offer any excuse. Neither refusal went over well, and the pair were sent to the principal’s office and sent home.

According to principal Larry Parker, the suspension came not for refusing to take the pledge, but rather for showing insubordination to their teacher by refusing to take it. Further, Parker said that school policy dictates all students must stand so that they won’t be singled out for cruel backlash from their peers.

“It’s just pure old defiance,” said Parker, and explained that in not simply accepting the punishment, the pair were “making a mountain out of a whatever.” :

—Scott Saxon