School District To Apologize To 11-Year-Old Atheist Questioned For Not Standing During Pledge

SAN JACINTO (AP) — A Southern California school district will apologize to an 11-year-old atheist who says his teacher questioned him because he didn't stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Ivan Cobarrubias says he kept his seat during the morning pledge at Monte Vista Middle School in San Jacinto earlier this month because the words "under God" violate his beliefs.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise says the boy told his mother that his teacher questioned him about his actions.

Mark Thompson, whose law firm represents the school district, said Friday that the district will apologize to the boy next week.

Also, a banner that read "Prayer Changes Things" has been removed from the teacher's classroom.

San Jacinto is a city of 45,000 located 85 miles east of Los Angeles.