Pledge of Allegiance in Schools

[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.

We capitalize God here, pal.

[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.

You do know there is more than just Jesus vs Allah? You do know that there are religions or beliefs that one should not pledge allegiance to any object?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do all the students/families pledge to the USA flag?

Who says "USA flag"? That sounds like Soviet Communist terminology.

[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.

i like it! Completely unrelated, but I also think organ donation should be assumed unless you opt out and not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You do know there is more than just Jesus vs Allah? You do know that there are religions or beliefs that one should not pledge allegiance to any object?

Yes, it was an example. How many deities would have I had to have listed to have made it kosher with you (see what I did there?). Yes, I know that. Those kids/people are free to opt out. Frankly I don't care if it says one nation under "Vacuum Cleaner", that can simply close their prissy little mouth during that part.

[Anonymous]

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.

We capitalize God here, pal.

So sorry! There was a typo in what I wrote; it should have read "under 'god,'" not "under god."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I agree with both these posts. We are atheists, but I can still respect the pledge and the flag. My kids know the words, and that is ok with me. When they decide to ask me about god we can have a discussion. Because the reality is, lots of people believe in god - and they might choose to... that's ok with me. I don't worry about having to discuss it.

[Anonymous]

My DS goes to a DCPS and he's never said it in school. He only knows it from being in Cub Scouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I agree with both these posts. We are atheists, but I can still respect the pledge and the flag. My kids know the words, and that is ok with me. When they decide to ask me about god we can have a discussion. Because the reality is, lots of people believe in god - and they might choose to... that's ok with me. I don't worry about having to discuss it.

Thank you. I appreciate your perspective. I am a Christian and I respect the atheists who don’t feel as if they have something “to prove.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I agree with both these posts. We are atheists, but I can still respect the pledge and the flag. My kids know the words, and that is ok with me. When they decide to ask me about god we can have a discussion. Because the reality is, lots of people believe in god - and they might choose to... that's ok with me. I don't worry about having to discuss it.

Thank you. I appreciate your perspective. I am a Christian and I respect the atheists who don’t feel as if they have something “to prove.”

NP. Frankly, I've yet to meet one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You do know there is more than just Jesus vs Allah? You do know that there are religions or beliefs that one should not pledge allegiance to any object?

Yes, it was an example. How many deities would have I had to have listed to have made it kosher with you (see what I did there?). Yes, I know that. Those kids/people are free to opt out. Frankly I don't care if it says one nation under "Vacuum Cleaner", that can simply close their prissy little mouth during that part.

i bet you would have a problem if we tried to change it to vacuum cleaner. One problem is that some religions think a pledge to an idol - flag- itself is a sin, so you can't solve the problem by listing deities. I like the opt in suggestion above, should satisfy everyone, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I agree with both these posts. We are atheists, but I can still respect the pledge and the flag. My kids know the words, and that is ok with me. When they decide to ask me about god we can have a discussion. Because the reality is, lots of people believe in god - and they might choose to... that's ok with me. I don't worry about having to discuss it.

My DD doesn't have to say the pledge, but I have absolutely taught her to be respectful in settings where it's recited. She stands quietly. She doesn't put her hand over her heart or recite the words. There may be a time that she changes her mind and chooses to more actively participate in the pledge...that's for her to decide. The most important thing is to show respect for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You do know there is more than just Jesus vs Allah? You do know that there are religions or beliefs that one should not pledge allegiance to any object?

Yes, it was an example. How many deities would have I had to have listed to have made it kosher with you (see what I did there?). Yes, I know that. Those kids/people are free to opt out. Frankly I don't care if it says one nation under "Vacuum Cleaner", that can simply close their prissy little mouth during that part.

i bet you would have a problem if we tried to change it to vacuum cleaner. One problem is that some religions think a pledge to an idol - flag- itself is a sin, so you can't solve the problem by listing deities. I like the opt in suggestion above, should satisfy everyone, right?

I wouldn't. We aren't religious- "god" and vacuum cleaner are equally silly notions to us. If it doesn't bother my kids and makes them feel happy, it doesn't bother me. Do you hand wrong and hover this much over everything your kids do at school/play etc? It's a nice tradition and a good way for kids to learn both memorization and public speaking.

[Anonymous]

I just recited the pledge for my DCPS student and he had never heard it. He has heard the Star-Spangled Banner, though.

I think the pledge of allegiance is silly and I am glad to know that he's not having to participate in the faux-patriotic gesture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I agree with both these posts. We are atheists, but I can still respect the pledge and the flag. My kids know the words, and that is ok with me. When they decide to ask me about god we can have a discussion. Because the reality is, lots of people believe in god - and they might choose to... that's ok with me. I don't worry about having to discuss it.

Thank you. I appreciate your perspective. I am a Christian and I respect the atheists who don’t feel as if they have something “to prove.”

NP. Frankly, I've yet to meet one.

You know the religious affiliation (or lack thereof) of every person you meet?