© 2026 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Our daily newsletter, delivered first thing weekdays, keeps you connected to your community with news, culture, national NPR headlines, and more.

Student: Teacher Scolded Him For Not Standing For Pledge

A 12-year-old boy says his teacher yelled at him for not standing up during the Pledge of Allegiance at a Hillsborough County school.

Sixth-grader Mark Dawson tells WFLA-TV that his teacher at Liberty Middle School yelled at him last month because of his decision not to stand and say the Pledge. Dawson says he doesn't believe in standing up for it because there's more than one religion.

He says he was told to leave the classroom.

WFLA reports the county school district's policy says students don't have to take part in the Pledge, as long as they don't get in the way of other students who want to say it. A school representative says the teacher didn't know the policy but now does after talking with the principal.

Thanks to you, WUSF is here — delivering fact-based news and stories that reflect our community.⁠ Your support powers everything we do.