Actually, said student was not being forced to say it. She could choose not to say it while everyone else did. And as a kid who went through that as a Jehovah's Witness, I can tell you it's BRUTAL for kids to have to constantly explain why they aren't saying the pledge, and it makes you an object of morning derision every day. It's not being forced, but it IS coersion.

What the court ruled was that the inclusion of the words "under God" made it a school-sanctioned religious activity. Whereas it's legal for students to pray, etc. on their own, and legal to hold after-hours Bible studies, etc., making it part of the daily class routine WAS an unconstitutional breach of the separation of church as state.

Although the schools are not required to comply with the ruling until the appeal is settled, schools were planning on including other patriotic songs and activities. Which sounds like a great idea to me -- it's far more civic-minded to present other acticities than simply a bland pledge.