Final answer:
The false statement related to Section 14 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 is that students are encouraged to express their opinions freely, which is proven by the West Virginia v. Barnette case where students' freedom of speech and belief was protected.
Step-by-step explanation:
The FALSE statement with reference to Section 14 "Duties and Responsibilities of Students" of the Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 is D) Students are encouraged to express their opinions freely. According to the West Virginia v. Barnette (1943) case, students in the U.S. are given the right to not participate in the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds of freedom of speech. Moreover, the Court has made it clear that compulsory participation in acts that could be seen as expressing a particular faith or opinion is unconstitutional.
This stance is not only an instance of the Court protecting the free exercise of students' own religious and non-religious beliefs but also preventing the establishment of a state-sponsored religion. The Court's decisions ensure that students have the right to hold to their own beliefs without coercion to publicly affirm beliefs they do not hold. Similarly, saluting the flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance are viewed by the courts as patriotic exercises that students cannot be forced to partake in if they choose not to.