Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pledge Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Red Lake board votes to send pledge policy to committee after call to remove Pledge and anthem
Summary
During a lengthy discussion, board members debated removing the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem from schools and sporting events and voted to send Policy 5.31 to the policy committee for review and possible change.
The Red Lake Public School District board on Jan. 21 voted to send Policy 5.31 — the district policy addressing flag display and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance — to its policy committee after a sustained discussion about cultural safety in schools.
A board member who identified themself only in the record as a board participant (Committee member, S3) urged the board to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from district practice and replace it with an Anishinaabe pledge and the Red Lake flag song, saying the Pledge is "a ritual of allegiance to the United States government" that conflicts with the district's responsibility to serve predominantly Ojibwe students. "I am calling for the removal of the Pledge of Allegiance from the Red Lake School District," the speaker said, citing historical harms including boarding schools and instances of coercion that, they said, cause intergenerational trauma.
Chair (S1) acknowledged the concern and said principals had not reported awareness of students being forced to participate: "None of them is aware of anybody being forced..." The chair also noted the existing policy provides the option to not participate and to omit the phrase "under God," and said the board will honor any policy committee recommendation if the board acts on it.
Board members discussed whether the national anthem and pledge are required by state law; one member noted the practice is referenced in state statute and encouraged staff to research legal requirements before formal action. Several members suggested consulting the tribal governing body and the superintendent for broader community input.
On a motion by Tom, seconded by Jack, the board voted to refer Policy 5.31 to the policy committee for review and consideration, with the policy committee expected to convene within weeks and report back. The committee will consider options that ranged in the discussion from reaffirming current practice to removing or modifying the pledge and the district’s use of the national anthem at athletic events.
Why it matters: The proposal pits two widely held values in the district — respect for veterans and national symbols, and the need to create culturally safe school environments for Ojibwe students whose communities experienced historical harms linked to assimilation policies. The policy committee’s review will allow a process of stakeholder input, legal review and at least one formal subcommittee recommendation before any board action.
What’s next: The board directed staff to place the item on the policy committee agenda; the chair indicated the committee will meet soon and bring recommendations back to the full board in the coming months.
