"Resolved that Massachusetts wears no chains and spurns all bribes"

Storytime!

My most recent review of this is taken from A History of Worcester, Massachusetts (on Google books here; start on page 1448), though it is in all of Worcester's histories of the time.

Worcester often touts itself as the home of the first national women's rights convention, and so its place in suffrage is a bit known. What has somewhat gotten lost is its importance in the fight over the abolition of slavery.
In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Law passed Congress as part of the Compromise of 1850 (the question of what to do with Kansas). This required those in free states to assist in the apprehension and return to slavery of those escaping it. Those not doing so could be jailed and fined. As home to many of the Free Soil party (those who wanted new states to come in as non-slaveholding), Worcester was loud in its offense.
In his inaugural address of the following year, Worcester Mayor Peter Bacon said the following in reference to the Fugitive Slave law:

If it be asked whether it is intended that the police shall, in its official capacity, aid in its enforcement, I answer No.

...and went on say that any officer so doing, he would recommend be removed from office.
Within three years this would be tested in a most public way.
The capture and return to slavery of Anthony Burns in Boston roused the city to indignation in May of 1854. Bells in the churches tolled and the flag on the Common was reversed and raised to half mast.
When it was learned that Asa Butman, the U.S. marshal who had apprehended Burns, was in Worcester in September, the Worcester Spy released the following:

LOOK OUT FOR KIDNAPPERS!

BUTMAN, THE KIDNAPPER OF THOMAS SIMS AND ANTHONY BURNS IS IN TOWN ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER OFFICER!!  

When the crowd of volunteers watching his movements grew, surrounding his hotel, and Butman was seen with a pistol in hand, someone swore out a complaint, he was arrested for carrying a dangerous weapon. Upon his giving bail, Butman was so concerned by the crowd that he voluntarily put himself back into custody. A number of abolitionist saw to it that he reached the train station safely; when it was found that he had missed the train, he was put in a carriage with a vow that he would not return to the city.
So far as anyone knows, he never did.

It's a good time to review "Barnette"

Specifically, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, decided by the Supreme Court in 1943:

The Fourteenth Amendment, as now applied to the States, protects the citizen against the State itself and all of its creatures -- Boards of Education not excepted. These have, of course, important, delicate, and highly discretionary functions, but none that they may not perform within the limits of the Bill of Rights. That they are educating the young for citizenship is reason for scrupulous protection of Constitutional freedoms of the individual, if we are not to strangle the free mind at its source and teach youth to discount important principles of our government as mere platitudes. 

Such Boards are numerous, and their territorial jurisdiction often small. But small and local authority may feel less sense of responsibility to the Constitution, and agencies of publicity may be less vigilant in calling it to account. The action of Congress in making flag observance voluntary and respecting the conscience of the objector in a matter so vital as raising the Army contrasts sharply with these local regulations in matters relatively trivial to the welfare of the nation. There are village tyrants, as well as village Hampdens, but none who acts under color of law is beyond reach of the Constitution... 

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us.

We think the action of the local authorities in compelling the flag salute and pledge transcends constitutional limitations on their power, and invades the sphere of intellect and spirit which it is the purpose of the First Amendment to our Constitution to reserve from all official control.

Among the rights students retain at the public schoolhouse door is that of refraining from pledging allegiance to the flag.

Rest in Peace, Pete Seeger

And because Mr. Seeger acted as a conscience of a nation, and this is an education blog:

Newark students WALK OUT

Sorry, late posting on this one!
Hundreds of students from across the city walked out of Newark high schools on Tuesday to protest school closings and budget cuts.(You can get some idea of what happened from the #npswalkout hashtag on Twitter.) For some facts you Newark school funding, see here.
The part I found most impressive (besides that many students risking suspension for what is an act of civil disobedience) was the student testimony before the budget committee.


Clearly, these students have done their homework, and they know their stuff.

Michigan high schools arrested at education sit-in at Governor's office

Michigan high school students were arrested in Lansing Wednesday after they staged a sit-in at the Governor's office to protest the actions of Robert Bobb, the emergency manager of the Detroit Public Schools. Bobb has been a controversial appointee, facing conflict with parents, teachers, and staffers, among others. (Bobb is a Broad Superintendent's graduate, class of 2005, graduating the year after Worcester's Melinda Boone.)
The students had asked to meet with the Governor, who refused and also refused to send a staffer out to meet with them. The Governor appointed Bobb.
The protest was organized by the local chapter of By Any Means Necessary