When I was an instructor I observed several student teachers and I happened to observe several instances where one student chose to decline to stand and recite the pledge. Only one in the room, and I saw it several times with several different people. Maybe 3 times. Not only did no one intimidate or coerce any of these single, non-pledging students, no one even paid any attention. They didn't care! I mean this argument that an optional pledge is coercion or intimidation is baloney. If we're going to stop everyone from saying it because one person does not want to say it, who are we infringing upon here?
When my friend declined to stand last year, a group of kids across the room yelled at him, and the teacher didn't seem to care. It all depends on the type of kids, I suppose.
