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<DIV><SPAN class=headline>Before anyone gets too excited this is in North
Carolina and these folks know how to keep their military bases!! This little
bill sure won't hurt either!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=headline></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=headline>Dick Schmidt</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=headline></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=headline>State Senate approves Pledge of Allegiance bill</SPAN>
<BR><SPAN class=PublishDate>June 02,2005</SPAN> <BR><SPAN class=Source>Sun
Journal</SPAN> </DIV>
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<P><SPAN class=byline></SPAN>
<P>The state Senate approved by a 50-0 vote Wednesday that public schools must
set aside time daily to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
<P>"The Pledge of Allegiance is such an important part of who we are as a
country," said Sen. Scott Thomas, who voted for the proposal. "But it should not
just be another normal part of the school day. What's even more important is
that students really understand the meaning behind those words."
<P>Students also would learn the significance and history of national and state
symbols under this citizenship legislation.
<P>In addition, the bill would require the displaying of U.S. and N.C. flags, as
well as giving age-appropriate instruction to students to learn the significance
and the history of the two flags, the Pledge and North Carolina's state motto
and symbols.
<P>"(The schools) are certainly supportive," said Janet Furman, public relations
director for the Craven County Schools. The Craven County school system
currently already is reciting the Pledge, Furman said, and also teaching the
history and symbolism as part of their current curriculum.
<P>Little would change whether this bill is approved or not, she said, because
they already meet most of the requirements. The only difference is that it would
be required by law.
<P>In 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a lower court's decision calling
teacher-led recitation of the Pledge unconstitutional because it contained the
words "under God."
<P>"So many brave men and women in uniform made the ultimate sacrifice to
protect the freedoms and values that we hold close to our hearts as Americans,"
Thomas said. "It is those freedoms, those values, that this bill is really
about."
<P>North Carolina would join about 35 other states that currently require
schools to include recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance during the school
day, although students cannot be required to recite the Pledge.
<P>The bill still needs to pass the state House before it can become law.
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