Pledge of Allegiance Center of New Town School Dispute

NEW TOWN, N.D. (AP) — A national atheist group is helping the parents of a 6-year-old New Town boy who wants to sit down while his classmates stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The American Humanist Association's Appignani Humanist Legal Center has sent a letter to school officials, saying that coercing a student to stand for the pledge infringes on his or her constitutional rights.

Parent Jesse Adams tells the Minot Daily News school staff have removed his son from the classroom and also suggested to the parents that they bring the boy to school 10 minutes late.

School District Superintendent Marc Bluestone says the boy has been asked to stand outside the classroom during the pledge to avoid disrupting the other students. He says school officials are consulting with the district's attorney.