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Public Institutions should be free of religion. Let people worship (or not worship) as they wish outside of school. The pledge has undergone quite a few mutations and, according to our country's founding fathers, the phrase should never have been inserted. While there are places where church and state seem to intersect, they don't threaten religious freedom because they are not endorsed by public institutions (the gov't).
This case is not about the pledge but serves to reinforce a need to keep very clear the separation between church and state within the public sphere. I think we, as a country, need to be mindful about letting too much "church" seep into our public institutions. Many people have no problem saying "under God" because our country is predominantly Christian. But we are not a "Christian" country (as Italy is a Catholic Country). What if the phrase was "under Allah," or "under Jehovah-Shalom," or "through Buddha," or "under Mother Earth?" Because this country was founded on a belief that our public institutions should be free of religious bias, if we recognize one religion's name for "The Supreme Being" (in Christianity, "God") shouldn't we recognize all of them? How is it possible to choose one? Additionally, it follows that if we're going to recognize religious beliefs, then we must recognize non-belief also, since one is also free in this country to be atheist (which is very different from agnosticism, even though they are often equated as like). What about substituting "under nothing?" Schools are public institutions in a country that should not have religious bias. Do you see where the problem lies? Why should one religion be favored in an institution created to serve the populace?
I realize that every student has the right not to say the pledge because of religious beliefs; they are welcome to choose to sit with mouths closed. However, I don't think a decision to affect non-participation in an activity the school endorses should be made based upon CONFLICTING religious beliefs. I say "conflicting" religious beliefs because not participating in the pledge is a response to an opposing belief, not solely because of the student's own religious dogma.
We've done a pretty good job of keeping church and state separate. Let's not erode what the founding fathers set out to do and the reason so many people come to this country. If you are really adamant that your religious beliefs be a part of your child's daily schooling, you are welcome to send them to any private religious school of your choosing.
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