For many years, it has been a tradition for students across the country to start the day by placing their hands over their hearts and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

The controversy over the words "under God" in the pledge is almost as much of a tradition as the pledge itself. But recently, a Massachusetts family reportedly asked a judge to force their school district to exclude the phrase during recitation, according to a Fox News story.

The family members, who consider themselves atheists, are reportedly arguing that the phrase violates "equal protection" laws and faced a Superior Court judge Monday.