All MCPS high school principals, including CHS Principal Joan Benz, received a memorandum from Deputy Superintendent Beth Schiavino-Narvaez July 26 reviewing the guidelines pertaining to student participation in patriotic exercises and verifying the MCPS regulation JFA-RA which upholds the Supreme Court ruling that saying the Pledge of Allegiance must always be voluntary.

During pre-service week, MCPS principals were required to share this information with staff. Key components of this memo included that staff may invite students to stand and participate in saying the Pledge, but also take necessary and appropriate action if students are being disruptive during it. Staff may not require students to stand and participate in saying the Pledge.  In addition, they may not question students’ reasons for not participating.

“I think CHS students should be invited to stand,” Dr. Benz said. “But students who chose not to say the Pledge should not be disruptive.”

According to Benz, CHS staff has to abide by the memo no matter their own opinions.