Anonymous wrote:I wasn't born in this country and I am uncomfortable about the idea of my kids doing it

don't be. An allegiance means nothing more than a certain degree of attachment. It is just a feeling, that's it.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the do it. My DH was born in another country and finds it very odd, to put it mildly. It’s also arguably unconstitutional. In Maryland, students cannot be forced to say the pledge, but hearing it is bad enough. My DC said the teacher gets mad if any kid fails to stand up during the pledge.

I think they should have a daily recitation of a short version of the Bill of Rights instead!

No student in the US can be forced to or punished for not participating in the pledge-West Virginia v. Barnette. If I remember correctly, the justices included bodily movements in their ruling definition of freedom of speech. So in addition to not being forced to say the words, individuals can not be forced to place a hand over a heart, and would likely have a strong argument that they cannot be compelled to stand or assume any particular bodily position.

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't born in this country and I am uncomfortable about the idea of my kids doing it

Are you a US citizen? Are your children?

I wasn't born in this country and I am uncomfortable about the idea of my kids doing it

Yes, the do it. My DH was born in another country and finds it very odd, to put it mildly. It’s also arguably unconstitutional. In Maryland, students cannot be forced to say the pledge, but hearing it is bad enough. My DC said the teacher gets mad if any kid fails to stand up during the pledge.

I think they should have a daily recitation of a short version of the Bill of Rights instead!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s called civics. It’s a minor introduction to civics that is fairly innocent.

Ha ha I just asked my 2nd grader. She said they were at the beginning of the year, but now they keep forgetting.

Anything that involves a pledge, which is a promise, is not innocent.

You don't want your kid to pledge allegiance to the very country she lives in and which is giving her a free public education?

Not the PP but it doesn't really matter.

Does an allegiance give you right to do something which is not allowed by law? or does an allegiance require you do anything that is not required by law?

I answer "no" to both. So why does it matter to others?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s called civics. It’s a minor introduction to civics that is fairly innocent.

Ha ha I just asked my 2nd grader. She said they were at the beginning of the year, but now they keep forgetting.

Anything that involves a pledge, which is a promise, is not innocent.

You don't want your kid to pledge allegiance to the very country she lives in and which is giving her a free public education?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s called civics. It’s a minor introduction to civics that is fairly innocent.

Ha ha I just asked my 2nd grader. She said they were at the beginning of the year, but now they keep forgetting.

Anything that involves a pledge, which is a promise, is not innocent.

A promise to some not well defined issues is not something really matters.

It is a way of brainwashing though, but there are already too many of those so who cares.

Anonymous wrote:It’s called civics. It’s a minor introduction to civics that is fairly innocent.

Ha ha I just asked my 2nd grader. She said they were at the beginning of the year, but now they keep forgetting.

Anything that involves a pledge, which is a promise, is not innocent.

My son does in MS. Interestingly, he says the God part in his school but his friend at another MCPS MS doesn't.

Anonymous wrote:It’s called civics. It’s a minor introduction to civics that is fairly innocent.

Ha ha I just asked my 2nd grader. She said they were at the beginning of the year, but now they keep forgetting.

Innocent or not, it is not unusual.

Though no need to use "part of civics" as a reason. There are many parts of civics that the school never practice to such an extent.

It’s called civics. It’s a minor introduction to civics that is fairly innocent.

Ha ha I just asked my 2nd grader. She said they were at the beginning of the year, but now they keep forgetting.

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the most weird and antiquated tradition and I assumed it would be gone by now, but kids still have to do it? How common is it?

Nothing weird about it. Just an easy way to brainwash kids. I don't see a problem with that.

Do a search, OP. There are lots of threads on this topic.

I think this is the most weird and antiquated tradition and I assumed it would be gone by now, but kids still have to do it? How common is it?