A bill that would force students to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance would solve a problem that doesn’t exist, local principals said last week.

“It’s common practice,” Principal Mark Lucas said at Birch Hill Elementary School in Nashua. “I don’t have anybody here that doesn’t stand. Some people don’t recite it for religious reasons, but I don’t have anybody who doesn’t stand.”

Early last week, state Rep. Harry Accornero, R-Laconia, presented a bill in committee that would require students to stand during the pledge. The bill, HB 1146, would change language in the School Patriot Act, which was passed soon after Sept. 11, 2001, and requires school districts to include the pledge as part of each school day.

Accornero wants everyone to stand and pay respect to the flag, unless a student is physically unable to do so.

The School Patriot Act already requires students to “respect the rights of those pupils electing to participate” in the pledge, and Lucas said anything further is unnecessary.

Accornero didn’t respond to a message seeking comment. In earlier statements with the media, he said the intent of the bill is to emphasize respect during the pledge and to educate students on the importance of the American flag.

The House Constitutional Review & Statutory Recodification Committee heard the bill Tuesday but has yet to act on it. It is scheduled to be out of committee by Feb. 23.

When asked about the proposed law last week, local principals questioned the need for the law and whether it would be constitutional to make students stand.

Colette Valade, principal at Elm Street Middle School in Nashua, said students already show respect to the flag. She said it’s already part of the school’s practice to stop students from being a distraction or disruptive during the pledge.

“I don’t see how having a bill forcing someone to do that is going to solve any problems,” Valade said.

The phrase in the pledge that reads “One nation under God” has clashed with the religious beliefs of some students – and some have said a bill requiring students to stand would be unconstitutional for violating their religious rights.

At Reeds Ferry School in Merrimack, the elementary school students are allowed to object to the pledge for religious reasons. Principal Kim Yarlott said it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, there have been no problems.

“We haven’t had any issues or concerns with that,” she said. “The number of objections is very few and far between. We ask that all of our students are respectful, and either reciting it or stay very quiet.

“We’re not seeing any flagrant or mild disrespect toward the Pledge of Allegiance.”

Principal Bryan Lane at Alvirne High School in Hudson said the school asks students to stand but doesn’t demand it. Some students in the past have chosen to forgo the pledge, but Lane said those rare occasions have been resolved without an issue.

If the law is passed and ruled constitutional, Lane said the school would follow it and support its intent.

Lucas echoed those feelings, but he questioned the need for such a bill.

“Whether the bill passes or not, I don’t think it would become an issue here for my students,” he said.

Cameron Kittle can be reached at 594-6523 or ckittle@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow Kittle on Twitter (@Telegraph_CamK).

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