No Pledge Mandate for Sioux Falls High Schools

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Middle school students in Sioux Falls will be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis, but high school students will not. That's upsetting to some military veterans.

Army veteran James Boorman had asked that the daily recitation be expanded from elementary schools to the higher levels. The School Board on Tuesday night approved the expansion to the middle schools but not high schools.

Boorman says having all students take a few seconds to recite the pledge would pay respect to those who have defended freedom.

Board members say not requiring high school students to say the pledge is not meant as disrespect. Board member Kate Parker says that at the high school level, there isn't always an opportunity for students to say the pledge every day.