The Badger Herald: News: Madison school board reverses pledge of allegiance decision

Updated Monday, December 7, 2009, at 10:52 p.m.

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Madison school board reverses pledge of allegiance decision

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Early Tuesday morning, the Madison Metropolitan School Board reversed an earlier decision some say effectively banned the Pledge of Allegiance in Madison public schools.

To ensure separation of church and state but also comply with a new state law requiring students to daily recite either the Pledge of Allegiance or sing the national anthem, the board voted last week to only allow an instrumental version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Board members said the phrase, “one nation, under God,” violated the idea of separation of church and state.

At the start of the meeting, audience members who disagreed with the board’s decision last week led an impromptu recitation of the Pledge. Those who supported the board remained seated including Bill Keys, the author of the original proposal.

At 2:30 a.m., after almost 170 people voiced their opinions, the board reversed their decision in a 6-1 vote. Bill Keys was the lone dissenter.

Schools will now offer either the pledge or “The Star-Spangled Banner” daily, along with a statement that every individual has the right not to participate.

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