As North prepares to reintegrate the Pledge of Allegiance into the school day, administrators and student members of the Student Faculty Administration (SFA) have decided that the pledge will be recited once a week during Monday advisory until a long-term plan is developed. 

The pledge will be recited for the first time over the loud speaker by junior Trent Southiere, Monday, Jan. 12, according to Principal Henry Turner. 

Massachusetts state law requires that “each teacher at the commencement of the first class of each day in all grades in all public schools shall lead the class in a group recitation of the ‘Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,’ and that a flag shall be displayed in each classroom in each schoolhouse.” While the law mandates that the pledge be offered, students are not required to participate.

The renewed conversation at North began this fall after Southiere raised the issue with school leadership, prompting the SFA and administrators to revisit how the school aligns with the state requirement.

“No one is required to say it, but we should have the opportunity to,” Southiere said.

According to Turner, an advisory video update will be shown Monday, Dec. 22, announcing the school’s plan and reminding students to reach out to their SFA representatives with questions or concerns. 

Senior May Bunton, an SFA member, said the board is still determining how to implement the pledge without disrupting class time.

“A lot of students remember in elementary school when it was their turn to do the Pledge of Allegiance, walking down to the button, hitting the PA system, and then walking back to class,” Southiere said. “It’s cool to hear your voice across the whole school, and I’m pretty happy to have that moment again.”

State law also requires each classroom to display a flag. According to TV media arts teacher Amanda Mazzola, the TV studio did not receive a clearly visible flag until after Turner sent a schoolwide email about the requirement last year.

While Southiere expressed enthusiasm about the pledge’s return, he also acknowledged ongoing controversy surrounding it, including political implications and the inclusion of the phrase “under God,” which was added during the Cold War in the 1950s.

History teacher Kathryn Codd said clearer communication around teachers’ roles would be helpful, particularly whether teachers are expected to lead the pledge or simply maintain a respectful classroom environment.

She added that it is important for students to understand their rights, including the freedom to stand or sit, recite or remain silent, and omit certain phrases.

“The Supreme Court has legislated on this issue, that no student can be compelled or coerced into doing or saying the Pledge of Allegiance,” Codd said. “That is a freedom of speech issue.”

According to Turner, the full pledge, including the phrase “under God,” will be recited during announcements.