Brenda Brinsdon of Texas is suing her school district after she got into trouble for not reciting Mexico’s pledge of allegiance.

The 15-year-old was required to recite the Mexican pledge and sing its national anthem as part of her Spanish class. But Brinsdon, who is fluent in Spanish and whose mother emigrated from Mexico, felt uncomfortable with the tasks.

“Her conscience and patriotism would not allow her to participate in the assignment,” explained the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), which is helping Brindson with her lawsuit.

The civil complaint charges that the McAllen Independent School District violated Brinsdon’s constitutional guarantees when her Spanish teacher, Reyna Santos, demanded the recitation and singing. The student also claims that her school principal, Yvette Cavasos, tried to coerce her into going along with her teacher’s assignments.

Ironically, the controversy arose during the school’s celebration of Freedom Week, which observed the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and also on U.S. Constitution Day.

As an alternative, Brinsdon offered to recite the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish. But her teacher, according to the lawsuit, demanded instead that she research and write about Mexico’s independence—an assignment for which she received an “F,” even though, according to TMLC, the essay was said to be above average in quality.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Texas High-school Student Punished for Refusing to Recite Mexican Pledge (by Dave Bohon, New American)

William Brinsdon v. McAllen Independent School District (U.S. District Court, Southern Texas) (pdf)

Texas Student's Refusal to Say Mexican Pledge, Anthem Starts Controversy (by Brad Watson, WFAA-TV)