By SHERRI KOLADE
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools is one of many public school districts in Michigan that display the U.S. flag in its classrooms and has students recite the Pledge of Allegiance — and a recently passed legislation plans to make the two practices official.
The Michigan House of Representatives passed legislation Sept. 12 that requires all Michigan public schools to display a U.S. flag in classrooms and give students an opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance; the legislation is awaiting Gov. Rick Snyder’s signature.
Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is not a requirement for Dearborn Public Schools students.
DPS Communications Coordinator David Mustonen said Dearborn Public Schools has a flag in every classroom. With 19,000 students, he said it is hard to tell if any students prefer not to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
“We might have a student who doesn’t want to say the Pledge of Allegiance but I am not sure,” Mustonen said.
Mustonen said the new legislation won’t change anything in the district.
“It is not an issue here,” Mustonen said.
Mustonen said elementary and middle school students say the Pledge of Allegiance in their classrooms while high school students usually say the Pledge of Allegiance before assemblies or events.
“It is a pretty common routine in the elementary and middle schools,” Mustonen said. “(This) is part of their daily routine.”
(Sherri Kolade can be reached at [email protected])