Rally Slated For 6th Grader Who Sat For Pledge: Reports

FARMINGTON HILS, MI—A rally was to be held this morning to show support for a sixth grader who reportedly was pulled from his classroom seat and forced to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance earlier this month. The boy, Stone Chaney, has been sitting for the pledge since he was in second grade after his father had told him he could make a choice.

The Farmington Public Schools have put one teacher on administrative leave after the incident, and school officials continue to investigate the incident, which happened Sept. 7, during the first week of school. Eleven-year-old Stone has been pulled from the school by his parents.

The boy’s father, Brian Chaney, of Detroit, told the Detroit Free Press that he prefers to keep Stone in the school system because he’s doing well. While he does not want to paint a bad picture of the school system due to this single incident, Brian Chaney said he believes it’s important for others to know that this incident happened and that students do have a choice whether to stand for the pledge.

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Farmington Public Schools Superintendent George Heitsch last week issued a statement that the incident was under investigation and that, indeed, students do not have to stand for the pledge. According to the statement, he expects "every child and adult in our district to be treated with dignity and respect." His office did not respond to a message left for him this morning.

Farmington Hills police were to be at the school this morning in the event extra security was necessary for the rally. A report from WDIV-TV indicated that as of 7:30 a.m. Monday, when the rally was to happen, no one had shown.

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