Parents sue school after principal expels student for sitting during Pledge of Allegiance â TheBlaze
Martha Strother
India Landry  a 17-year-old Windfern High School student  said she was suddenly expelled Oct. 2 by the schoolâs principal   Martha Strother   after  she  refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Although India said she hasnât stood for the pledge for years  it wasnât until she was in the administrative office during the daily pledge recitation that  Strother  noticed and took issue with her silent protest.
âThe principal said  âStand up or youâre out of here 'â she added  alleging  Strother  told  her  if  she  didnât leave the school grounds within five minutes   she  would call campus police and have India Landry removed.  Her  mother  Kizzy Landry  was called to come pick her up  without any further details given to her.
âThey just assumed it was about race â  she  told the Houston Chronicle. âThe assistant principal told  her   âAll the other African-Americans are standing  so you should stand  too.'â
According to KHOU  Kizzy Landry finally spoke with  Strother  in a recorded phone call  and  Strother  told  her  unequivocally that India would not be allowed to come back unless  she  stood for the pledge  even though Cy-Fair ISDâs policy is to allow students to sit during the pledge as long as they provide written permission from their parents to do so.
After a weeklong expulsion and a local news story that brought attention to the matter  the school lifted the expulsion and allowed India back to school with a note from  her  mother  but the Landry family and their attorney believe the damage is already done and are seeking an undisclosed amount in damages for mental anguish.
â She  was damaged. You canât just throw people out of school â said the familyâs attorney  Randall Kallinen. âI donât know yet if  she âll be held back.â
India Landry  a 17-year-old Windfern High School student  said she was suddenly expelled Oct. 2 by the schoolâs principal    [TGT]    after  she  refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Although India said she hasnât stood for the pledge for years  it wasnât until she was in the administrative office during the daily pledge recitation that  Strother  noticed and took issue with her silent protest.
âThe principal said  âStand up or youâre out of here 'â she added  alleging  Strother  told  her  if  she  didnât leave the school grounds within five minutes   she  would call campus police and have India Landry removed.  Her  mother  Kizzy Landry  was called to come pick her up  without any further details given to her.
âThey just assumed it was about race â  she  told the Houston Chronicle. âThe assistant principal told  her   âAll the other African-Americans are standing  so you should stand  too.'â
According to KHOU  Kizzy Landry finally spoke with  Strother  in a recorded phone call  and  Strother  told  her  unequivocally that India would not be allowed to come back unless  she  stood for the pledge  even though Cy-Fair ISDâs policy is to allow students to sit during the pledge as long as they provide written permission from their parents to do so.
After a weeklong expulsion and a local news story that brought attention to the matter  the school lifted the expulsion and allowed India back to school with a note from  her  mother  but the Landry family and their attorney believe the damage is already done and are seeking an undisclosed amount in damages for mental anguish.
â She  was damaged. You canât just throw people out of school â said the familyâs attorney  Randall Kallinen. âI donât know yet if  she âll be held back.â