Hinsdale Central Handles Pledge Of Allegiance Issue

HINSDALE, IL — At a recent school board meeting, a resident stated that Hinsdale Central High School no longer required students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

It is true the school has no such mandate. But it is nothing new. In 1943, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot compel students to salute the flag or say the pledge, citing the First Amendment.

In a Sept. 17 staff newsletter, Central Principal Bill Walsh addressed the issue. Patch obtained the document through a public records request.

The school apparently has received questions about what students are told over the loudspeaker just before the pledge: "If you would like to state the Pledge of Allegiance, please stand and face the flag."

During fall 2019, Walsh met with several student organizations, which expressed a variety of perspectives on the pledge. He said he also met with the staff. The school listened to everyone's perspectives and added the line in 2019, Walsh said.

"There were a variety of reasons for the change, but I can truly express one reason for the change was not to diminish the contributions of our armed services, the patriotism of our school, or the people who daily defend the rights afforded citizens of this great country where we live," Walsh said in the newsletter.

Around Sept. 11, 2001, the school started reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and held a moment of silence to start the school day, Walsh said. He said he supports, recognizes and stands for the pledge protocol.

"(H)owever, I also respect the voices of Red Devils who cannot stand during the Pledge of Allegiance due to their religion and others who have taken a political position on standing," Walsh said. "As a public school, we cannot require Red Devils to stand."

The major reasons for the pre-pledge statement, he said, are to educate both students and staff of their freedom of speech rights and prevent conflict from arising in the classroom.