A small town in Upstate New York stands divided after their high school 's decision on Wednesday to broadcast the Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic . It was meant as a way to celebrate National Foreign Languages Week -- each day , the announcements and pledge at Pine Bush High School would be recited in a different tongue . However , the outrage it caused in some students and parents quickly forced administrators to issue an apology and a promise to henceforth only recite the Pledge of Allegiance in English . Now , lines have been drawn in Pine Bush ( pop . 1,600 ) as some students and teachers are outraged that an apology was issued at all while others applaud the decision and say the pledge should never have been recited in a language other than English . Scroll down for video . Outrage : Pine Bush High School in Upstate New York celebrated National Foreign Languages Week by reading the pledge in different tongues and caused outrage Wednesday by reading it in Arabic . School Superintendent Joan Carbone told the Times Herald-Record the controversy has 'divided the school in half . ' 'Something that was supposed to be good but turned out not to be , ' Carbone admitted . The attempt at teaching a lesson in multiculturalism caused a backlash almost immediately . The Herald-Record reports that the broadcast by student assembly president Andrew Zink was 'greeted by catcalls and angry denunciations in classrooms throughout the school . ' By Wednesday afternoon , Principal Aaron Hopmayer had apologized in a schoolwide announcement . The school would also soon post an apology to its website . 'The intention was to promote the fact that those who speak a language other than English still pledge to salute this great country , ' the statement read . 'We sincerely apologize to any /students , staff or community members who found this activity offensive . In our school District the Pledge of Allegiance will only be recited in English as recommended by the Commissioner of Education . ' 'It 's the right thing to do ' : Student assembly president Andrew Zink did the reading and says he would do it again . However , administrators were quickly forced to apologize . Students came out both against the reading and against the backlash as Superintendent Joan Carbone said the controversy had 'divided the school in half ' Though he did n't make the decision to make the day 's announcements in Arabic himself , according to TWC News , Zink says he was perfectly okay with reading the Arabic script for the day , though he knew it would be controversial . ' I knew exactly what would happen , ' he told the Herald-Record . ' I knew many would n't support it . ' That includes many of the student politician 's constituents at Pine Bush . 'Here 's my issue . You made the decision to turn the school against itself , a move you knew would make Pine Bush look bad , ' student Alan Bavolar tweeted to Zink . Student Alex Krug also opposed the recitation . 'It 's the Pledge of Allegiance , we 're saying it to the American flag . I think it should be said in English . It is foreign language week but we do n't even offer Arabic in Pine Bush High School , ' he said . Others supported Zink 's decision and were appalled by the backlash , like senior Miranda Monroe , who tweeted : . ' '' I go to Pine bush but I 'm not racist '' *Me introducing myself to new people* ' Despite all the controversy , Zink wo n't apologize for his decision to read the pledge in Arabic . 'It 's the right thing to do , ' he said . Zink was bombarded online by his detractors and his supporters Wednesday but says he supports what was initially a gesture of multiculturalism . . .
National Foreign Languages Week in Upstate New York celebrated Pine Bush High School by reading the pledge in different tongues . Administrators were forced to apologize after the reading in Arabic stirred outrage in some parents and students . The pledge will henceforth only be read in English , officials said .