POLL: Does the Pledge Belong in Our Schools?

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.

Thirty-one words. That's less than what a Journalism 101 professor will allow a freshman writer to use in a lede. But, apparently, it's plenty to cause a stir among students, parents, officials and educators. 

Recently, in nearby communities like and , there have been widely publicized debates about the merits of saying the "Pledge of Allegiance" in the public schools.

Now, we're not saying that's happening here. Although, judging by , it could.

According to the students and school administrators interviewed for the story, Lexington Public Schools are not all abiding by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 71, Section 69 -- the law cited by School Committee Chairwoman Mary Ann Stewart when contacted by Patch for this story -- which holds that public school teachers should lead their students in group recitaitons of the pledge at the start of the first class of each school day.

Anyone who has ever or attended a thoughtful in Lexington has seen this town show that it's proud of where it came from, proud to be American.

But when it comes to saying the pledge in schools, some in town have questioned whether it's respectful to the non-American families in town. And that's not even getting into the whole "under God" issue...

It should be noted that, while the MGL requires that the pledge is said every day in public schools, the Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that school children cannot be forced to recite it.

So, with that in mind, we want to know, Do you think the Pledge of Allegiance should be said in all of the Lexington Public Schools? Why or why not? Take our poll or let us know in the comments section below.