Atlanta Charter School Nixes Non-'Inclusive' Pledge of Allegiance From Morning Ritual

Caleb Tolin | August 9, 2018
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In an electronic letter to the parents of children who attend Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, Elementary Campus Principal Lara Zelski announced that the school will no longer start their day off with the Pledge of Allegiance.

“This decision was made in an effort to begin our day as a fully inclusive and connected community,” Zelski writes. “Over the past couple of years it has become increasingly obvious that more and more of our community were choosing to not stand and/or recite the pledge.”

“There are many emotions around this and we want everyone in our school family to start their day in a positive manner. After all, that is the whole purpose of our morning meeting," the letter continues.

But -- hold on -- the school will be rallying together under something else: the Wolf Pack Chant, which will allegedly “focus on students’ civic responsibility to their school family, community, country and our global society.”

Students are able to recite the Pledge at another point in the school day, but will not be offered the opportunity at the beginning of their day.

While the ANCS community may be content with this decision, the move has sparked quite a bit of controversy across the nation.

Kneeling or just not participating in the Pledge of Allegiance or during the national anthem has been popularized by players in the NFL following Colin Kaepernick's lead. Even public officials like Connecticut Selectwoman Melissa Schlag have knelt during the Pledge recently.

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