Must a child stand for pledge in Virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't they stand? I stand for other country's pledges and national anthems.

In high school some don’t stand because they are still half asleep and don’t realize it’s happening. You can see their eyes half closing and it’s obvious they just woke up. This is the most common reason year after year in my classes. -teacher

[Anonymous]

90-95% of my high school students don't stand up and don't recite. They DGAF.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was just that minute of silence thing only? Maybe with a few encouraging words from the teacher about visualizing the good day of learning and friendship they were going to have? How would they contribute to making this day go well for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year I may start staying seated for the Pledge. In the past I’ve been able to overlook the “under God” part, but I don’t know that I am willing to pledge allegiance to a flag that stands for a nation that is no longer “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.

ES Teacher

That’ll show ‘em!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Must a child stand for pledge in Virginia And if so, how does that fit with Barnett’s (1943)?
Is it because you don’t have to say it but we can still make you stand?

The coercion is more subtle than that.

Starting next year there will also be teacher-led prayer, you know. Nominally optional but kids generally don’t like drawing attention to themselves so most will go along to get along, especially if they fear reprisal come grade time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay so you can't "force" a student to stand, but can you tell them "Larlo, please stand up during the pledge" and if they don't then say "Please be respectful during the pledge" but all without literally forcing them to stand? Anything wrong with that?

And BTW I find that when students don't stand for the pledge in elementary school it is generally because they are distracted or silly or whatever, not making any kind of actual statement.

No. Just say nothing. If they are being disruptive, discipline them whatever way you discipline other disruptions.

Kind of hard to discipline someone when I and the other students are all saying the pledge of allegiance. Discipline them after for being disruptive? I'd just as soon put a stop to it in the moment, five seconds, done.

Let’s make it a little easier for you:
Disruptive? Discipline.
Not disruptive? STFU.

I am totally fine with respecting a student's beliefs regarding the pledge and if they choose to not stand for that reason I'm okay with it. However, I consider it a critical part of my job as an educator to teach my students what it means to be respectful, of other's beliefs and of cultural norms. I have to do that because parents like you, who think it's a good idea to tell a stranger on the internet to "STFU", don't teach their children what it means to be respectful.

This is true and sadly teachers everywhere spend a large part of their day teaching children to be kind and respectful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't they stand? I stand for other country's pledges and national anthems.

It doesn't matter why. It is a first amendment issue and standing/not standing is symbolic speech.

It is a shame that good manners are no longer taught

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your poor little snowflake op. We certainly wouldn’t want trouble him/ her in any way. Imagine being asked to stand in respect for ones country for a whole 30 seconds every day.

You cannot do this. Please stop being stupid.

+1

Why should a non-religious person be forced to stand for a pledge that includes a reference to God? My DC chooses to sit quietly during the pledge and is not disruptive at all - I’m fine with that, as is the teacher.

Basic manners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90-95% of my high school students don't stand up and don't recite. They DGAF.

Wow.

How sad.

What school do you teach at?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t it be nice if there was just that minute of silence thing only? Maybe with a few encouraging words from the teacher about visualizing the good day of learning and friendship they were going to have? How would they contribute to making this day go well for everyone.

No.

That moment of silence is the atheists prayer and religious expression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:90-95% of my high school students don't stand up and don't recite. They DGAF.

Wow.

How sad.

What school do you teach at?

DP
Why is it sad? Maybe they do GAF and the flag just doesn’t stand for what the Pledge says it does. Why then would you pledge allegiance to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t it be nice if there was just that minute of silence thing only? Maybe with a few encouraging words from the teacher about visualizing the good day of learning and friendship they were going to have? How would they contribute to making this day go well for everyone.

I like that idea! —HS Teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90-95% of my high school students don't stand up and don't recite. They DGAF.

Neither do I. Reciting the pledge feels weird and cult-like. Plus, all the hoopla people made over Colin Kaepernick’s respectful form of protest tainted the ritual for me.

—HS Teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t it be nice if there was just that minute of silence thing only? Maybe with a few encouraging words from the teacher about visualizing the good day of learning and friendship they were going to have? How would they contribute to making this day go well for everyone.

No.

That moment of silence is the atheists prayer and religious expression.

The atheist’s prayer? What the hell are you talking about? The point of the moment of silence is you can use it to pray or meditate - it can be religious or not religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t it be nice if there was just that minute of silence thing only? Maybe with a few encouraging words from the teacher about visualizing the good day of learning and friendship they were going to have? How would they contribute to making this day go well for everyone.

No.

That moment of silence is the atheists prayer and religious expression.

The atheist’s prayer? What the hell are you talking about? The point of the moment of silence is you can use it to pray or meditate - it can be religious or not religious.

Seldom are the students completely silent. There always seems to be someone chatting, or humming, or other type of noise while they fiddle with something.

ES Teacher