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Pledge amendment part of state budget

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By Everdeen Mason, Staff Writer Updated 7:22 PM Tuesday, July 14, 2009

HAMILTON — When state legislators passed the controversial state budget Monday, July 13, they also made way for Sen. Gary Cates’ Pledge of Allegiance amendment.

Cates’ amendment would prohibit Ohio’s 613 public schools from passing policies against reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms.

“I think every child should know the pledge and understand its meaning as part of learning about being a good citizen,” Cates, R-West Chester Twp., previously said. “If they choose not to recite the pledge, that’s OK. However, let’s not infringe on the right to be able to say it in school.”

Cates was inspired to create the amendment after complaints from parents of a northern Ohio district.

“Sen. Cates was contacted by parents in Oberlin City School District,” said a Cates staff member. “The district has a blanket policy that did not allow the Pledge of Allegiance in the schools.”

The amendment wouldn’t change practices in Hamilton City Schools.

“Our schools all say the Pledge of Allegiance; most schools do it every morning,” said George Jonson, vice president of the Hamilton Board of Education. “We certainly don’t plan to change it.”

Middletown Board of Education member John Sauter said students should not just recite the pledge, but should be taught to understand the meaning of the words.

"Just getting up and reciting the words in themselves is not enough. Every time you say the pledge of allegiance, you are making your personal pledge to this country," Sauter said.

The American Civil Liberty Union has called the amendment a violation of First Amendment rights.

“Local school districts know their communities best and should be permitted to make decisions that they feel are consistent with those they represent,” Christine Link, executive director of ACLU of Ohio, stated in a news release.

The ACLU is waiting to see the final language of the legislation, but has concerns, said Carrie Davis, ACLU staff attorney.

“Certainly we’re disappointed the legislator passed it. We’d hoped the governor would veto it,” she said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2192 or emason@coxohio.com.

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