SPRING HILL, FL -- The controversy over a Hernando County student who made a disparaging remark to a Muslim girl has taken a different turn. 16-year-old Heather Lawrence claimed the girl did not stand during the pledge of alligiance.
According to multiple reports, Springstead High School Principal Susan Duval said she spoke with the teacher who was in the classroom with the Muslim girl at the time of the pledge. The teacher confirmed the girl was standing.
Lawrence says she was walking by the girl's classroom and saw sitting down during the pledge. Later, Lawrence says she told the girl to take the muslim head scarf off and stand up.
"You know, I made a not-so-kind remark, and I do sincerely apologize for referring to the thing on her head because that had nothing to do with it." Lawrence told us, "But I told her, why don't she act like she's proud to be an American."
The school suspended Lawrence for five days, which has since been reduced to three days.
The Muslim girl's identity has not been released.
