Pledge of Allegiance in Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well this explains why my son in pre-k 4 asked about putting his hand over his heart on his way to school this morning. I thought it might be because of the pledge of allegiance.

I wonder if he will ask me who Richard Sands is.

... or ask you turn on the "dawnser" so she can have more of le light (love, Ramona!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know more than one family who has their kids sit out during the pledge to the flag because they are atheists. The school doesn't care and I don't care either way whether my kids say it or not.

The truth is that you can't make a person loyal to the country by forcing them to say the pledge of allegiance from a young age. Do you really think those 5 year olds really know what they're saying?

Yes, as a matter of fact I do. And many others must agree, or they wouldn't be so concerned about it. Our school has a unit on the flag and country as part of the K year curriculum. The K class leads the Pledge at a school assembly, marches in waving flags and sings "You're A Grand Old Flag." It's one of my favorite memories of my kids' year in K and still one of the school highlights of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would the District require this? Another dumb policy.
Do they at least take out the words "under god"?

A better question is, who are the idiot parents who "question" this?

Me, for one. I'm an atheist and don't want my child to be encouraged to pledge to something "under god." That goes against my family's values.

I have always omitted "under God" even when I was a teacher. Most people don't realize that those words were added as a response to the red scare in the 1950's. I have no problem if others chose to recite the modern version, I think it should be a choice to say it (or not)

[Anonymous]

Even if policy requires it in school, your kid would not be required to say it, only to be quiet and respectful while others do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if policy requires it in school, your kid would not be required to say it, only to be quiet and respectful while others do.

Of course. My kids have never attended a school where the pledge was recited, but if they did, I would advise them to stand respectfully and quietly, even if they choose not to recite, just as I would ask them to do if we were in any other country where a national pledge/anthem, etc., was being recited/played/sung. Basic manners, folks. We are a bunch of leftist atheists, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would the District require this? Another dumb policy.
Do they at least take out the words "under god"?

A better question is, who are the idiot parents who "question" this?

Me, for one. I'm an atheist and don't want my child to be encouraged to pledge to something "under god." That goes against my family's values.

The school may not be a good fit for your family.

So all of DCPS is not a fit for me and my family, even though we live in the District. Great advice, thanks!

I'm guessing you also expect the majority to conform to you, the minority?

Basic rights are protected against the whim of the majority. If you don't like that, I can suggest a few places you can move to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would the District require this? Another dumb policy.
Do they at least take out the words "under god"?

A better question is, who are the idiot parents who "question" this?

Me, for one. I'm an atheist and don't want my child to be encouraged to pledge to something "under god." That goes against my family's values.

The school may not be a good fit for your family.

So all of DCPS is not a fit for me and my family, even though we live in the District. Great advice, thanks!

I'm guessing you also expect the majority to conform to you, the minority?

Basic rights are protected against the whim of the majority. If you don't like that, I can suggest a few places you can move to.

By definition, your position is the "whim."

[Anonymous]

My kids do it. They also recite their school pledge, which includes things about doing their best, being a good friend, being honest and brave, working hard, and kind to one another at all times.

My family is not religious and I don't care if my kids put in the "under God". Anyway, it doesn't say "God:Jesus", so why can't it mean your God, Allah, or whomever your "God" is?

Unclench.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids do it. They also recite their school pledge, which includes things about doing their best, being a good friend, being honest and brave, working hard, and kind to one another at all times.

My family is not religious and I don't care if my kids put in the "under God". Anyway, it doesn't say "God:Jesus", so why can't it mean your God, Allah, or whomever your "God" is?

Unclench.

If they said flying spaghetti monster, I'd be ok with it.

[Anonymous]

So have them say it. Be that cool.

[Anonymous]

An appropriate time to share this video of Red Skelton, explaining the Pledge of Allegiance.
I am sure many of you are too young to even know who Red Skelton is (a comedian whose comedy was actually very clean)......
A great, classic video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBTyTWOZCM

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised people on here don't get the distinction between opting out of something versus opting into something. Asking a 5 year old to opt out of something is very different than not doing the pledge of allegiance at all. A better solution would be to opt into the pledge. Those kids (or parents) who think it's important to say can go off to the corner every day and say a pledge. The rest of the class should be able to go about their business.

[Anonymous]

Why do America haters hate the pledge of allegiance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised people on here don't get the distinction between opting out of something versus opting into something. Asking a 5 year old to opt out of something is very different than not doing the pledge of allegiance at all. A better solution would be to opt into the pledge. Those kids (or parents) who think it's important to say can go off to the corner every day and say a pledge. The rest of the class should be able to go about their business.

Oh, well, now that's a formula for inclusion if I've ever heard one.

[Anonymous]

Why do we need to pledge to the flag? Seriously, I am an Old and never understood this (we did it at our DCPS in the 70s).

It feels really fascist to me, and I'm pretty patriotic.