Colo. School Apologizes Over Pledge Change

[Kadie]

Colo. School Apologizes Over Pledge Change

Friday, April 22, 2005


(04-22) 14:39 PDT Wheat Ridge, Colo. (AP) --


A school counselor leading the Pledge of Allegiance over the public address system substituted "one nation under your belief system" for "one nation under God." The school apologized for the impromptu switch after students and parents complained.


Everitt Middle School counselor Margo Lucero said her change of words was "a spur-of-the-moment choice" meant to be more inclusive on the sixth anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings on Wednesday.


Principal Kathleen Norton, who was out of the building at the time, apologized to students Thursday and planned to send letters of apology to parents. Jefferson County School District Superintendent Cindy Stevenson called the change completely inappropriate.


"We completely believe any teacher or student has the right to follow their individual conscience," Stevenson said. "However, when leading children, you adhere to the Pledge of Allegiance."

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/04/22/national/a143943D53.DTL