pledge of allegiance in schools?

[Anonymous]

We have to deal with references to God every day. It's printed on our money, etc. I'm not pushing that kids say the pledge at all, but I also don't see it as a big deal. There are much bigger things to be concerned with.

[Anonymous]

No child has to say it; they do have to stand, though.

I am very conservative and yet I think it's a little creepy to pledge allegiance to a flag. I love our flag and I love seeing it fly, but there's something about chanting the pledge that I do find a bit odd. It is tradition, though, so I don't get too worked up about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No child has to say it; they do have to stand, though.

I am very conservative and yet I think it's a little creepy to pledge allegiance to a flag. I love our flag and I love seeing it fly, but there's something about chanting the pledge that I do find a bit odd. It is tradition, though, so I don't get too worked up about it.

+1

[Anonymous]

I made a big stink about this in elementary school, many, many years ago. You have lots of options here, from Under Dog to silence to mumbling, to discussing it with the child and letting her decide, or ignoring it altogether. And it's an opportunity to explore more broadly with her when we conform, and when we make other choices. You can underscore the patriotic message that we have the RIGHT to abstain - among our more significant 1st Amendment freedoms.

It may feel small, but it isn't: it's how you teach your children who you are, how you think, what you value.

[Anonymous]

It would annoy me too, OP, but I wouldn't make a fuss about it. I would just have a talk with my child like previous poster suggested about God and move on. I had to recite the pledge in elementary school and I just brushed that part off. My family is not religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not very religious...and I absolutely love the pledge of allegiance ...I got very emotional when my Kindergartner did it last year. It brought back so many great school memories.

I am a traditionalist about this and feel it should be chanted the way it was intended. If it helps...I know some little kids that say "under Dog" ...maybe you could teach your kid to recite it this way.

+1. God has been referenced in this country since (and before) the Declaration of Independence. I may not believe in God, but I believe in this country. And while it bothers me that the "under God" part was added to the pledge, but I still love it and love its meaning.

[Anonymous]

Preshool kids are made to hant every morning?

Why?
Creepy.

[Anonymous]

A bit of a supreme court buff here. The issue actually hasn't been decided by the supreme court yet. There was a case a few years ago that went to the court, but the court determined the attorney that sued didn't have "standing" (in other words, he couldn't technically bring the case because he was suing on behalf of his daughter, who was not in his custody at the time - the court essentially dodged the issue). Not that I feel wikipedia is a good reference, but it gives a good layman's read of the case summary:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elk_Grove_Unified_School_District_v._Newdow

[Anonymous]

My child's class recites it every morning. I discussed it with her, along with options and she says it however she wants. If I happen to join for morning meeting, I leave out "under God".

[Anonymous]

I am an atheist and I left out the "under god" every morning in high school when we had to recite it.

The real shame is that the addition of "under god" really messes up the cadence of the pledge. Say it without -- it really flows.

I'll teach DD to say it without those words, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is starting preschool this fall and I just learned that her class will be reciting the pledge of allegiance each morning. Now, I don't mind so much the pledge of allegiance in general - what bothers me is the "under God" line that's part of it. It doesn't bother me enough to make a big stink or say or do anything about it, but I certainly would prefer that the class did not saying the pledge of allegiance (actually, what I'd really like is to have no religious references in the pledge of allegiance)....anyway, my question is, is this (i.e., reciting the pledge in schools) standard? What about in public schools? Do the kids have to say the pledge there?

You can always tell your child to recite the original Pledge of Allegiance, from 1892, which did not contain the words "Under God." Tell your child to skip that part. The phrase "Under God" wasn't added until 1954.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter says it in Kindergarten. I said it in grade school and grew up liberal/agnostic. Why make a big deal?

I agree. I grew up saying it. It in no way shaped who I am or what I believe. I can honestly say I don't even remember the entire pledge.

[Anonymous]

Some anti-abortion proponents insist the pledge should be read:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, born and unborn."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Va public schools recite it. Makes me uncomfortable, too.

Why does pledging allegiance to your nation make you uncomfortable? Part of school responsibility is to teach children how to be good citizens. What's the problem here?

[Anonymous]

this whole thread makes me sad.