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Florida Constitution Revision Commission

PUB 700134: Repeal F.S. 1003.44 (1) Right to Opt Out of Patriotic Programs in Schools. Constitutional Amendment to Require Participation of Students by Don Jacobs

ARTICLE IX: EDUCATION, New Section.

Catchline: Patriotic programs in schools

Repeal F.S. 1003.44 (1) and substitute the following as an amendment to the state constitution.

 

 

(1) Each district school board shall adopt rules to require, in all of the schools of the district, programs of a patriotic nature to encourage greater respect for the government of the United States and its national anthem and flag, subject always to other existing pertinent laws of the United States or of the state. When the national anthem is played, students and all civilians shall stand at attention, men removing the headdress, except when such headdress is worn for religious purposes. The pledge of allegiance to the flag, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” shall be rendered by students standing with the right hand over the heart. The pledge of allegiance to the flag shall be recited at the beginning of the day in each public elementary, middle, and high school in the state. Each student shall be informed by a written notice published in the student handbook or a similar publication that the student must participate in reciting the pledge.