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From left, Eric Eckland, Hannah Christiansen and MacKenzie Cardinal say the Pledge of Allegiance in their classroom at Heritage High School, Tuesday morning, Sept. 17, 2013. A new law went into effect at the beginning of the school year requiring schools to make time for students to say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning although students are not compelled to do so.

(Jeff Schrier | MLive.com)

BAY CITY, MI —

The school day has a new beginning for many Michigan public school districts, including those in Saginaw and Bay counties.

Each day, kids enter their classrooms, take their seats and hear the day's announcements. Then, they stand to recite the Pledge of Allegiance under a new state law that mandates schools make time for the pledge.

The

took effect at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. It requires providing students an opportunity to recite the pledge each day, although they aren't compelled to say it. A second law requires public schools to display a United States flag in each classroom or site where students say the Pledge of Allegiance.

State. Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw Township, sponsored one of the Pledge of Allegiance bills, the one requiring flags in classrooms. Kahn said the goal of the law is to have students learn about the United States and what it stands for at an early age.

State Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw Township

“I think it’s going pretty well,” Kahn said. “I’m delighted to see it’s begun.”

Kahn said the pledge is a way to start a discussion of what the United States is all about. Prior to the law, he said he spoke with a kindergartner and his mother. The child could recite the pledge but didn't know what the United States was.

Kahn said students who object to the law can opt-out of the pledge without penalty and can't be subject to bullying.

The law applies to all grades, K-12, in public schools. Michigan is one of more than 40 states with such a law, according to the House Fiscal Agency.

The law is sparking debate and discussion in some classrooms, where students have differing views of the pledge provision.

Pledge sparks debate in the classroom

Students now say the pledge in Don Tilley's first-hour sociology class at Bay City Central High School.

It comes at a time when the class is studying cultural conformity and traditional American values, such as justice and freedom.

Bay City Central High School students Chad Peterson, left, and Nicolas Langley, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance on Friday, Sept. 20, in Don Tilley's sociology class.

On one recent morning, Tilley's students stood during the pledge and faced the U.S. flag. But not everyone said the words.

Stephen Thibeault, a 17-year-old senior, said he's not a fan of standing to say an oath to the flag when he doesn't agree with all of what the country is doing.

"It's not what I stand for," he said. "I'm not saying I hate America or living here."

His classmate, John Wieszciecinski, 17, wonders why

he's not allowed to wear religious clothing or items even though students say "under God" in the pledge.

Yet many students support saying the pledge and have no problem with "pledge time" each day.

Tilley's student Katelynn Badour, a 17-year-old senior, believes the Pledge of Allegiance is important to say and reminds students not to take what they have for granted.

Don Tilley

Tilley, a Bay County commissioner, is no stranger to the pledge. He says it each time the commission or its subcommittees meet for business.

In the classroom, however, he worries that students who object to the pledge stand out at a time when schools are working on reducing and eliminating bullying.

“They are now subject to the opinions of others, who may or may not like the idea that they don’t wish to say the pledge,” Tilley said.

He adds: "We’re there to create a nonthreatening environment and one that’s not meant to not to single out people because of their beliefs."

In May, Army veteran Jim Carbary requested children

in the Bay County Community Center Pool. A week later, he

because of concern about children being subject to bullying for not saying it correctly.

No 'major impact' on day at Saginaw Heritage High



At Saginaw Township's Heritage High School, students recite the pledge as it's said through the speaker system.

“We’re all a part of this country and, hopefully, stating the Pledge of Allegiance each morning allows to reflect on our citizenship,” said Doug Trombley, Saginaw Township Community Schools superintendent.

“One of things we try to do is give students a global perspective, when people exhibit choice and choose not to recite it, that might invoke discussion and understanding of different viewpoints," he said.

Trombley hasn't received complaints about the new pledge provision. Heritage High School social studies teacher Peter Tyson agreed.

"The law has not had a major impact on students, as it takes just about a minute everyday to say the pledge," he said.

What the new law says

The pledge law was enacted in 2012, but didn't affect public school districts until the start of the 2013-2014 school year. Here is what the law says:

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 1347a. (1) Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a public school academy shall ensure that an opportunity to recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States is offered each school day to all public school pupils in each public school it operates.

(2) A pupil shall not be compelled, against the pupil’s objections or those of the pupil’s parent or legal guardian, to recite the pledge of allegiance.

(3) The board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a public school academy, and the school administrator in charge of a school building, shall ensure that a pupil is not subject to any penalty or bullying at school as a result of not reciting the pledge of allegiance.

(4) As used in this section, “pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States” or “pledge of allegiance” means the pledge of allegiance to the flag prescribed in 4 USC 4.

A separate bill requires the display of an American flag in classrooms where the pledge is recited.

Bangor John Glenn educator says pledge shows `American spirit'

In Bay County's Bangor Public Schools district, elementary and middle schools had previously said the pledge, said Superintendent Matt Schmidt. Now, Bangor

John Glenn High School students are saying it as well.

"I think it's a good thing for kids to say. It gives them pride in their country," said Sandy Schafer, a John Glenn High School chemistry teacher. "It's a commitment to something bigger than themselves and reminds them of their freedoms."

Students in Schafer's advanced chemistry class recite the pledge each morning in the Bangor Township school.

Kelsey Kukla, 16, said she remembered the words of the Pledge of Allegiance even though she hadn't said it regularly in class since elementary school. Saying the pledge has sparked discussion in class about its meaning, she said.

John Glenn Principal Tony Bacigalupo said making time for the pledge has an upside for students.

"It allows kids and staff to show their patriotism. It's a daily reminder of the American spirit," he said.

— MLive reporter Jonathan Oosting contributed to this report. Lindsay Knake covers education for MLive/The Saginaw News and The Bay City Times. Follow her on twitter or contact her at 989-372-2498 or lknake@mlive.com.