Pledge to become optional for students

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - There's no set of standards requiring New Mexico children to stand and perform the pledge of allegiance, but soon that's expected to change.

The New Mexico Department of Public Education is expected to make changes, allowing students in every district the right to choose whether they want to recite the pledge or not.

Every school day, thousands of New Mexico school children recite the pledge of allegiance.

In some school districts, like the one in Albuquerque, some kids choose to sit out the ritual. Other districts require every student to stand up, face the flag and speak.

The issue flared up in Roswell three years ago when an elementary school teacher asked children to recite the pledge in Spanish. Some students refused and spoke English instead.

The issue splits most New Mexicans on whether the pledge should be a matter of choice.

"America is where we live, it is the country where we were born in, and we should respect the country that we live in," Jean New said.

"I don't think they should be a requirement but I don't think it's a problem if they are asked to do so," said another man before hurrying to cross Central Avenue.

The New Mexico Department of Public Education said it based its proposed change on the First Amendment.

"In addition to having free speech, to say what you want in most situations, you have free speech to not say something you disagree with," Willie Brown, the General Counsel for the New Mexico Department of Public Education, said.

Public education officials stress that even though a few students will probably opt out of the pledge, it will be recited in every class in New Mexico.

Department of Public Education members said they expect the "Pledge Optional" rule to be enacted shortly after kids return to class next fall.