Students Bring the Pledge of Allegiance to Local Airwaves with New Community Initiative

Schoolchildren in 1899 reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

“KUZZ has been honoring America with kids reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning for decades,” said Kenn McCloud, co-host of Kenn and Ness in the Morning. “This new partnership with local schools is a great way to spotlight our local students’ patriotism on the station each week. It’s uplifting, and we’re honored to be a part of it.”

Introduced in 1892 and updated in 1954 with the addition of “under God,” the Pledge has been a daily tradition in classrooms for generations. In fact, like in most states, California’s education code requires public schools to begin their day with a patriotic exercise like the Pledge. 

For many, reciting the Pledge represents national unity and a shared sense of pride. Yet, in an increasingly diverse society, it has also sparked debates about inclusivity, free speech, and individual rights.

Jeremy Adams, author and civics teacher at Bakersfield High School, has witnessed these evolving conversations firsthand. He says without question, over the past ten years, the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the national anthem have become topics of debate. 

“When I was growing up, you would always say the Pledge unless you had a religious reason. That’s not necessarily the case anymore, especially as kids get older. Sometimes the Pledge of Allegiance can become this kind of laborious task,” Adams said. 

The legal backdrop surrounding the Pledge remains significant. In 1943, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette that students cannot be forced to recite the Pledge, citing First Amendment protections for free speech and religious freedom. This decision guarantees that participation must be voluntary.

“You can’t tell students what they should pledge allegiance to. That’s consistent with First Amendment values,” Adams said. “However, I do believe the Pledge is important, especially in a pluralistic society like ours. It’s one of the few things left that allows us to unite around our civic identity.”

Adams sees the Pledge Across Kern initiative as a valuable way to help foster civic engagement but believes that it’s crucial that students not only know the words of the Pledge but understand what they mean. What is a Republic? What does ‘indivisible’ signify? What does ‘justice for all’ imply in a historical context? 

“Our entire civilization is predicated on the ability to have meaningful conversations underpinned by civility,” Adams said. “So, I think anything that gets kids participating, talking, and curious is positive.”

As schools across America navigate changing social dynamics, the Pledge remains a symbol of unity and diversity. Whether students stand and recite the Pledge or sit in silent reflection, their actions contribute to an ongoing dialogue about what it means to be an American — and how schools can balance tradition with respect for individual rights.

“In an era where political opinions are polarized, and we’re divided on so many issues, something like the Pledge can remind us of the values that unite us — life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Adams said.