Students across the United States recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily: 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.

In 2002, a father in California sued the government. He said that he did not believe in God. His daughter should not have to say “under God” in school every day. Many people agree with him. They say this language in the Pledge is not fair to people who do not follow a religion or who do not believe in a single God. They suggest that the language signifies to students who do not believe in God that their belief is wrong.

Other people say that having “under God” in the Pledge does not align with the separation of church and state. The separation of church and state is a legal principle in the United States that limits the relationship between government and religion. It means that the U.S. has no official religion. It also means that the government cannot interfere with each person practicing their own religion.

Supporters of the Pledge think that taking “under God” out of the Pledge would destroy tradition. A majority of the United States population is Christian. Many others tend to follow religions like Islam and Judaism that are also based on belief in one God.

Supporters may also say the phrase does not teach a specific religion. They say it just reflects the principles of most Americans. A belief in God is part of the U.S. tradition. People swear on the Bible when they go to court. “In God We Trust” appears on our money.

The Supreme Court reached the conclusion that teachers and students who disagree with the Pledge have the right not to say it. By forcing students to say the Pledge, schools would be violating students’ First Amendment rights. However, the ruling did not say that the Pledge should be altered.

Do you think allowing people to remain silent is an acceptable solution? Should reciting the Pledge be a requirement in schools? Or should the phrase “under God” be taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance?