A New Jersey school has stopped making students say "God bless America" when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance after an intervention from the American Civil Liberties Union, according to CBS Philadelphia. Glenview Elementary School in Haddon Heights came under fire for its practice after the school board attorney received a letter from the ACLU saying that reciting the phrase is unconstitutional.
Principal Sam Sassano claimed that the recital has been a part of the school's daily routine since the Sept.11 terrorist attacks in 2001, according to the Courier-Post. The action had been started by a small number of teachers who wanted to demonstrate support for the victims and first responders.
The teachers that initially started the recital are no longer with the school, but Sassano said that it had just become habit and then part of the school's culture. "It never, to us, invoked any type of religious intentions," Sassano said, according to CBS Philadelphia. "It was basically a patriotic gesture that the boys and girls were doing."
After the ACLU made its complaint, Sassano sent out letters to parents informing them that the school would look for alternative methods of honoring those involved in 9/11, according to NBC Philadelphia.
Some parents have not responded positively to the decision, with one parent telling NBC that "this is typical of the ACLU... they're bullying the masses. We're going to stand up and say that we don't agree."
Sassano has noted the reaction of the parents and told NBC that he wants it understood that he recognizes everyone's right to freedom of speech and that he will not prevent children from saying the phrase of their own accord.
"Many parents have expressed that they want their child to continue to state 'God bless America.' I do not feel I have the authority to forbid this and have assured parents that is their right," he said, according to NBC.
