As part of an misguided attempt to celebrate their National Foreign Languages Week, the school had their announcements as well as the Pledge broadcasted in a different tongue every day.
Evidently, the school didn’t learn from the Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, CO, who drew great ire as well after having their entire student body recite the Pledge in Arabic in 2013, replacing the words “under God” with “under Allah.”
School Superintendent Joan Carbone told the Times Herald-Record the controversy has ‘divided the school in half.’
‘Something that was supposed to be good but turned out not to be,’ Carbone admitted.
The attempt at teaching a lesson in multiculturalism caused a backlash almost immediately.
The Herald-Record reports that the broadcast by student assembly president Andrew Zink was ‘greeted by catcalls and angry denunciations in classrooms throughout the school.’
By Wednesday afternoon, Principal Aaron Hopmayer had apologized in a schoolwide announcement.
The school would also soon post an apology to its website.
‘The intention was to promote the fact that those who speak a language other than English still pledge to salute this great country,’ the statement read.
‘We sincerely apologize to any /students, staff or community members who found this activity offensive. In our school District the Pledge of Allegiance will only be recited in English as recommended by the Commissioner of Education.’
‘It’s the right thing to do’: Student assembly president Andrew Zink did the reading and says he would do it again. However, administrators were quickly forced to apologize
Students came out both against the reading and against the backlash as Superintendent Joan Carbone said the controversy had ‘divided the school in half’
Though he didn’t make the decision to make the day’s announcements in Arabic himself, according to TWC News, Zink says he was perfectly okay with reading the Arabic script for the day, though he knew it would be controversial.
‘I knew exactly what would happen,’ he told the Herald-Record. ‘I knew many wouldn’t support it.’
That includes many of the student politician’s constituents at Pine Bush.
‘Here’s my issue. You made the decision to turn the school against itself, a move you knew would make Pine Bush look bad,’ student Alan Bavolar tweeted to Zink.
Student Alex Krug also opposed the recitation. ‘It’s the Pledge of Allegiance, we’re saying it to the American flag. I think it should be said in English. It is foreign language week but we don’t even offer Arabic in Pine Bush High School,’ he said.
Others supported Zink’s decision and were appalled by the backlash, like senior Miranda Monroe, who tweeted:
‘”I go to Pine bush but I’m not racist” *Me introducing myself to new people*’
Despite all the controversy, Zink won’t apologize for his decision to read the pledge in Arabic.
‘It’s the right thing to do,’ he said.
How come they don’t understand this is AMERICA and we speak English? How hard is that?
Because the sheeple are afraid of being labeled bigots and racist, Christians and Jews need to say enough is enough and put a stop to this illegal madness that has a hold on us. I am a christian, and i will not bow down to any muslim terrorist agenda!
I would say the pledge and put the right words in there. If they hear it and don’t like it I would tell them to take it up with God!~!~ He can help you!~!~
Since when has America become a muslim country?