North Dakota school board reverses decision to ban pledge

Aug 19, 2022

Jimmie Johnson Reporter/Anchor

By Jimmie Johnson (Reporter/Anchor), Ben Burke (Producer/Editor)

After backlash from around the country and at home North Dakota School Board officials reversed course on its decision to drop the pledge of allegiance. Last Wednesday, the Fargo School Board voted 7-2 to do away with reciting the pledge.

Opponents said it violated the district’s diversity and inclusion code because saying “under God” did not include all faiths.

Gov. Doug Burgum (R) is now proposing a law that will require all public schools and governing boards to administer the pledge without mandating that people recite it.

Some Republican lawmakers also want to add a clause that would sanction any boards or commissions where the pledge is not administered.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: A NORTH DAKOTA SCHOOL BOARD HAS REVERSED COURSE ON ITS DECISION NOT TO RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AT MONTHLY MEETINGS. THE MOVE COMES AFTER COMPLAINTS FROM LAWMAKERS AND BACKLASH FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

LAST WEEK, THE FARGO SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTED TO DO AWAY WITH RECITING THE PLEDGE.
OPPONENTS SAID IT VIOLATED THE DISTRICT’S DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CODE BECAUSE SAYING “UNDER GOD” DID NOT INCLUDE ALL FAITHS.

A DECISION WAS REVERSED DURING A SPECIAL MEETING THURSDAY DOMINATED BY ANGRY EMAILS AND VOICEMAILS.
THE DISTRICT’S MOVE EVEN CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR DOUG BURGUM.
HE IS NOW PROPOSING A LAW THAT WILL REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND GOVERNING BOARDS TO ADMINISTER THE PLEDGE WITHOUT MANDATING THAT PEOPLE RECITE IT.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ALSO WANT TO ADD A CLAUSE THAT WOULD SANCTION ANY PUBLIC BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS WHERE THE PLEDGE IS NOT ADMINISTERED.