Pledge of Allegiance back on after Nebraska school suspends practice due to government shutdown

Students are again reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at a western Nebraska high school that had temporarily suspended the practice due to the government shutdown.

Alliance High School Principal Pat Jones told students not to recite the pledge Oct. 7, citing the shutdown that went into effect the previous week over a congressional budget impasse.

Some students complained, and one woman told The Associated Press that her son stood up in class and recited the pledge anyway.

Superintendent Troy Unzicker said Monday that the principal hadn’t cleared his plan with administrators, and students were again permitted to recite the pledge.

Unzicker said the district heard from parents about the principal’s decision, and he said he believed all the calls or emails opposed the decision.

"There were some positive aspects that came out of it, but (skipping the pledge) is not something we will do again," Unzicker said.

The superintendent declined to say whether Jones would be disciplined for violating district policies.

[Kids reciting Pledge of Allegiance photo by USAG-Humphreys via Flickr]