A Florida student is facing misdemeanour charges after a confrontation with a teacher that began with his refusal to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and escalated into what officials described as disruptive behaviour.

The student, a sixth-grader at Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in Lakeland, Florida, east of Tampa, refused to stand for the pledge, telling the teacher that he thinks the flag and the national anthem are "racist" against black people, according to an affidavit. The teacher then had what appeared to be a contentious exchange with him.

An 11-year-old boy was charged after refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Credit:Evelyn Barota

If living in the United States is "so bad," why not go to another place to live? Ana Alvarez, who was substituting at the school, asked the student, according to a handwritten statement from her.

"They brought me here," the boy replied.