Do I have to stand for the pledge of allegiance?

Here is a website that can point you to information you seek http://ffrf.org/outreach/item/14030-pledge-of-a... For the "freedom from religion" foundation And the ACLU of Oregon, which had a case like yours: http://ffrf.org/outreach/item/14030-pledge-of-a... It is likely they cannot make you stand and or speak, and that singling you out for it is a violation. But NY may have some rules of its own. Still, seems to be a Federal issue.

There are greater injustices in the world. If you really want to help society, go volunteer at food bank, distribute blankets to the homeless, organize a food drive, start a micro-lending business in Africa...go DO something that helps some body else that is in need. Raise the issue with your counselor or school principal. See what they say and they may just resolve the situation. (By sitting down, you are voluntarily singling yourself out, but constitutionally, the school shouldn't do anything). The teacher made a mistake and it is up to his supervisors to correct the mistake. If they don't resolve the situation, okay, then maybe you contact your local ACLU office, and the situation most likely gets resolved with a letter and a phone call. Let me be candid, your in school and your world is really tiny right now (that is just reality). So, even if I say have some perspective, that is almost impossible because you don't really have perspective (you likely have very few responsibilities and therefore your view of what is important and not important is skewed). In a few years, when you graduate, none of this (and really, none of this) is going to matter. There is an old saying (not sure how old) and it is: "If you are not a rebel at 20, you have no heart; but if you are not establishment by 30, then you have no brain!"