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Despite a federal judge blocking a law that requires public school students and teachers to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, Moffat County schools will continue to do business in the same way, said district Superintendent Pete Bergmann.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock issued the temporary injunction Friday, which blocks a Colorado law mandating the pledge.

The law went into effect Aug. 6 and made it a requirement that students from kindergarten to 12th grade and teachers recite the Pledge of Allegiance. It allowed students to opt out by handing in a note from their parents but had no way for teachers to opt out of the pledge.

"I support that (the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance) but the other side is I don't support it at the violation of personal liberties," Bergmann said. "We need to respect the freedom of speech."

Bergmann said the school district would continue to say the Pledge of Allegiance until it receives instructions from the court to do otherwise.

Charlie Watkins, a member of the local VFW, said he believes patriotism should be taught in schools and that the Pledge of Allegiance serves as a cornerstone of that education.

"Our basic feeling is that we need to take our country back from the foreigners and others that are subverting patriotism from being taught," Watkins said. "Patriotism should be taught and the Pledge of Allegiance is sort of the beginning of that."

In 2000, the Moffat County School Board made it clear that the Pledge of Allegiance was to be a part of the morning routine for schools in Moffat County, Bergmann said.

"At first, there were questions," Bergmann said.

Some students do sit through the pledge and the school district does not make every child stand and say it, Bergmann said.

"We will continue to honor the flag in Moffat County," Bergmann said.

Colorado is one of 33 states that requires to the Pledge of Allegiance to be said during the school day.

Watkins said he understands that teachers might want the option of declining to say the Pledge of Allegiance but added that he is not sure why they are allowed to be teachers in the school system.

"There are a lot of foreigners now and they don't want to do it (say the Pledge of Allegiance)," Watkins said.

"I believe in local control," Bergmann said, "They (the new civic-minded laws) don't affect us because we are already doing it."

Liz King is an intern with the Craig Daily Press. She can be reached at 824-7031 or eking@craigdailypress.com.