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Students and teachers urge support for HB117, the Pledge of Allegiance Act, at House Education hearing
Summary
Student and teacher witnesses told the House Education Committee that daily recitation and classroom curriculum tied to the Pledge of Allegiance build civic awareness and unity; lawmakers questioned how the measure protects students who opt out and how curriculum would be implemented.
A series of student and teacher witnesses urged the Ohio House Education Committee to back House Bill 117, the Pledge of Allegiance Act, during a second hearing where proponents tied the measure to veteran recognition and civic education.
Grace Barkas, a Life Scout and sophomore at Marysville Early College High School, told the panel she recited the pledge each morning through eighth grade and that restoring the practice in later grades “help[s] students around the state learn to appreciate what the Pledge of Allegiance means to families with friends and relatives serving our country.” She testified the pledge gave her a daily opportunity to honor relatives who served in Afghanistan, Vietnam and World War II: “I always felt extremely proud to be able to honor them and others serving for our country every morning.”
The bill drew similar testimony from other students. Evan Holshue, a Marysville freshman and troop guide, said the flag “represents that sacrifice,” and that regular recitation would remind students of the freedoms that result from those sacrifices. Aidan Haggard, a college student who helped restore the pledge at his high school, described organizing Veterans Day assemblies and urged the committee to expand those practices statewide.
Tiffany Neuffer, an agriculture teacher at Willard High School and a member of the Willard Community Honor Committee, described classroom and community programs that pair students with veterans and said the pledge is a "shared moment of reflection and respect" that can strengthen civic responsibility. Neuffer also described district efforts—Veterans Day assemblies, banner programs and Honor Flight partnerships—that she said complement classroom practice.
Committee members pressed witnesses on how the bill would treat students who choose not to participate. Representative Brennan praised Barkas’s testimony while stressing that students who decline to stand retain a constitutional right to do so; Barkas and other witnesses said the bill would not force participation and that teachers already use teachable moments to protect students from ostracism. Representative Byrd asked whether saying the pledge signals that a student believes the country is perfect; Evan Holshue replied, “No. It's definitely not perfect,” adding that recitation is a way to honor sacrifices while acknowledging room for improvement.
No committee vote was taken. Chair Fowler Arthur closed the in‑person testimony, noted written testimony had been submitted for members to review, and recorded that the second hearing on HB117 had concluded.
