Bipartisan bill would require Ohio schools to recite Pledge of Allegiance daily

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio public school districts would be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day under a new bipartisan bill.

State Reps. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) and Sean Brennan (D-Parma) introduced House Bill 117 to require public schools to establish a specific time and manner for the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Schools would also be "highly encouraged" to develop and implement lessons related to the American flag and the pledge, although participation would not be necessary.

“As a veteran American Government and History teacher, I have always firmly held to the fact that our public schools were, in part, created to instill our young learners with a sense of loyalty to our country," Brennan said. "I encourage every adult in Ohio to set the expectation and model for our young people the importance of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, respect for the American flag, standing when veterans march by in a parade and other actions that further this goal."

Under H.B. 117, school districts would have to make these policies publicly available online. School districts would not be allowed to require anyone to participate or infringe on their Constitutional rights.

In the U.S., states are permitted to require public school participation, but laws cannot infringe on the First Amendment right to choose whether or not to participate, regardless of age. Four U.S. states -- Florida, Utah, Pennsylvania and Texas -- currently require parent permission to opt out of the pledge, but Ohio's law would not require parental consent.

This would repeal and replace a current Ohio law, which requires districts to clarify if reciting the pledge is a part of the schools program and protects teachers' right to lead their classroom in the pledge if they wish to.

In central Ohio, many school districts already recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily. Canal Winchester and South-Western City School representatives confirmed all students recite the pledge daily, and Hilliard schools have a district policy requiring daily recitation.

Other districts recite the pledge less frequently. Grandview Heights said its students recite the pledge daily in grades K-3, and then weekly for all other grades. Pickerington representatives said they say it daily in grades K-8, and weekly in high school. A Reynoldsburg representative said the district does not have a specific policy or consistent cadence for reciting the pledge, and a Bexley spokesperson said the district encourages, but does not require it.

In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words “under God” to the pledge. This updated, 31-word pledge would be the pledge required under H.B. 117.

“Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance builds nationalism and unity by promising to be faithful to our American values," Richardson said. "We live in the greatest country in the world and the Pledge of Allegiance helps to remind us of this.”

The bill had its first hearing in the House Education Committee on March 11, but does not yet have a second hearing scheduled.