'God bless America' no longer in school pledge after ACLU deems phrase 'unconstitutional'

A New Jersey Elementary School's decade-long tradition of reciting the phrase "God Bless America" after the Pledge of Allegiance has been challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union.

A letter was recently sent from ACLU to the school's attorney claiming the phrase invoked "God's blessing as a daily ritual is unconstitutional and in violation of the Establishment Clause since it allegedly promotes religious over non – religious beliefs, especially with young, impressionable children."

According to the school's principal Sam Sassano, the tradition began back in September 2001, with two kindergarten teachers who wished to show their support to victims and responders of the twin tower attack.

"It just became sort of a habit," said Sassano, who has been principal at the Haddon Heights School since 2005. "Now it's part of the culture here." 

The tradition is unique only to Glenview Elementary school and no other schools end their daily pledge in this way, according to Sassano.

The ACLU noted that the U.S. Supreme Court had previously rejected the practice of invoking God's blessings in daily school rituals, citing the legal precedent of the 1962 ruling.

The group explained that the ritual is "unconstitutional" and in violation of the Establishment Clause, as it "allegedly promotes religious over non-religious beliefs, especially with young, impressionable children."

Glenview Elementary stated that it will not prevent its 265 students from using the phrase, however, the school would seek to "explore alternative methods of honoring the victims and first responders of the 9/11 tragedy" to avoid a potentially costly legal battle.