GERMANTOWN, Md. - The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland is protesting the treatment of a middle-school student who refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The incident occurred Jan. 27 at the Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown. A 13-year-old girl refused to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.

"The teacher in that class began to yell at her, began to shout at her," said Ajmel Quereshi, the ACLU attorney representing the girl. "Other students began to jump in and mock her when they saw that he was calling her names and calling her stupid. She was feeling embarassed so, not knowing what to do, she stood up."

The next day, the girl remained seated during the pledge again. This time she was marched by two school police officers to the office, said Quereshi.

"The assistant principal sided with the teacher and told the child that she should immediately apologize to the teacher," he said.

Instead, the ACLU insists the teacher should apologize and the school should use this incident "as a teaching moment to explain to the students that what happened was wrong," said Quereshi.

Dana Tofig, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Public Schools, confirmed that the teacher violated school regulations and said the student will receive an apology.