Dupage Policy Journal

Glenbard South High Principal Sandra Coughlin is coming under fire after leading families, guests and students at this year’s graduation in the Pledge of Allegiance while leaving out the phrases “of the United States of America” and “under God.”

Couglin, who is set to retire at the end of the year, is being accused of putting her political views above the interests of graduates who were just looking to celebrate the day. Her omissions drew audible sighs and outrage from attendees.

Coughlin later apologized, saying she 'fumbled' the pledge.  “I would never intentionally disrespect our great country, our flag, nor the men and women who have done so much to protect and defend our freedom.”

Top school officials in the Glenbard School District are finding themselves amidst controversy of late, with Glenbard School District 87 Superintendent David Larson also recently facing mounting criticism over his decision to encourage teachers to “nudge” students to get vaccinated.

“As you are able, please take the time to encourage, nudge and challenge each eligible student to attend one of these clinics to be vaccinated,” Larson posted on social media.

Larson’s encouragement runs counter to some recent findings, including Swedish data published in the New England Journal of Medicine, where researchers concluded children who attended school without masks were found to be essentially safe from COVID.

Those findings came about despite schools there being hit with fewer precautions than in DuPage at the onset of the pandemic. Social distancing was encouraged, masks were not used and children remained in school.

Still, Larson recently shared in a memo, “I believe, given the unpredictability of this pandemic, it will be critical for as many students as possible to be vaccinated by August as we start the next school year.”

With Glenbard School District 87 being home to just over 8,000 students, Larson noted teachers should target the 5,292 students in the school district who are 16 and older. To date, the World Health Organization has only recommended vaccinations for children 16 and older.

Glenbard School District 87 is home to 8,029 students and includes four high schools: Glenbard East, Glenbard North, Glenbard South and Glenbard West.