Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one should be required to say it, not even students.

No one is required to say it or to stand.

I taught back in the day. Jehovah's Witnesses do not say the pledge. The kids were required to be respectful of the other kids during the pledge--or could wait in the hall.

The sad part about this discussion is that people on here seem to think there is something wrong with saying it.

Anonymous wrote:Should a Teacher be required to Say the pledge ? MY DS Teacher stands up for the pledge but doesn't say it. Should He? Should I email him and ask why he doesn't stand up and say it loudly?

I'd joke that you should call Fox News and Betsy DeVos about this commie-loving, America-hating, terrorist teacher, but I suspect that's what you really want to do anyway.

Anonymous wrote:No one should be required to say it, not even students.

No one is required to say it or to stand.

Yes, OP... email the teacher. Make sure you demand proof (audio or video recordings, natch) that he does this -- LOUDLY -- each day.

No one should be required to say it, not even students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no requirement to say the pledge or even support this country to remain a full and protected citizen. We are not required to participate (vote) in the governing of it either. The opinions of ignorant people who think that their notion of what others should do SO FAR does not supersede what the constitution protects from being imposed on others. I say the pledge when I am somewhere it is said but because I love my country and the freedoms allowed I do not judge individual choice or feel that the flag wearing, hand on heart, proudly allegiance maker is more a part of this country than my fellow citizens who no neither or even go so far as to turn away from the flag (or 'take a knee'): we are a great country because all of this

You don't have to like kids. Heck, you can really, really dislike kids. But that would probably make teaching out of the question for you.

If your goal is to help educate our future U.S. citizens I would hope that you at least like our country and that you aren't secretly hoping that Switzerland kicks our school children's academic azz.

But their job is math and reading, not political indoctrination. You are really delusional.

The bottom line is that a teacher vested in the well being of America is going to put more effort into teaching young American children than a English citizen vested in the well being of England. I suppose you will need a multi million dollar study to prove that though .

Anyone who has chosen teaching as their profession has a vested interest in the children in their class exceeding their potential. Regardless of what country they might be citizens of or what pledge they might say at the beginning of the day.

An American teacher who is planning to raise her kids and retire in America is going to view this country differently than a visiting teacher from another country. Someone from Europe is not going to care as much about American kids' futures as an American teacher will.

This is absolutely bizarre. My son has had caregivers from Brazil and Nigeria, and they took amazing care of him. He has had a teacher from Israel, who was as excellent a teacher as any American I've known.

FWIW, they don't say the pledge at his elementary school, nor do we in the school in which I teach. And we live in "flyover country."

I'm assuming that your son is fairly young if you are talking about his caregivers? Obviously, a baby/toddler/preschooler is going to require a lot of hands on care from his caregiver. That's more of a nanny than a teacher and we're not talking about nanny's.

As far as his teacher from Israel goes, it is great that you were happy with her. You have no way of knowing if she was as great with her American students as she was with the kids in her own country. Will she likely ever see your son again? Will she likely ever see the kids in her hometown again?

My son is in elementary school. I honestly don't care how his teachers/caregivers work with kids from their home countries; I care about how they educate my child and the children in our community. The teachers I've known from other countries have been excellent at educating our children, both academically and socially. And, yes, I'm friends with those former teachers and caregivers on Facebook, so we do "see" each other frequently.

What grade is your son in? I know you said elementary school but there is a difference between early elementary and late elementary and where the focus is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no requirement to say the pledge or even support this country to remain a full and protected citizen. We are not required to participate (vote) in the governing of it either. The opinions of ignorant people who think that their notion of what others should do SO FAR does not supersede what the constitution protects from being imposed on others. I say the pledge when I am somewhere it is said but because I love my country and the freedoms allowed I do not judge individual choice or feel that the flag wearing, hand on heart, proudly allegiance maker is more a part of this country than my fellow citizens who no neither or even go so far as to turn away from the flag (or 'take a knee'): we are a great country because all of this

You don't have to like kids. Heck, you can really, really dislike kids. But that would probably make teaching out of the question for you.

If your goal is to help educate our future U.S. citizens I would hope that you at least like our country and that you aren't secretly hoping that Switzerland kicks our school children's academic azz.

But their job is math and reading, not political indoctrination. You are really delusional.

The bottom line is that a teacher vested in the well being of America is going to put more effort into teaching young American children than a English citizen vested in the well being of England. I suppose you will need a multi million dollar study to prove that though .

Anyone who has chosen teaching as their profession has a vested interest in the children in their class exceeding their potential. Regardless of what country they might be citizens of or what pledge they might say at the beginning of the day.

An American teacher who is planning to raise her kids and retire in America is going to view this country differently than a visiting teacher from another country. Someone from Europe is not going to care as much about American kids' futures as an American teacher will.

This is absolutely bizarre. My son has had caregivers from Brazil and Nigeria, and they took amazing care of him. He has had a teacher from Israel, who was as excellent a teacher as any American I've known.

FWIW, they don't say the pledge at his elementary school, nor do we in the school in which I teach. And we live in "flyover country."

I'm assuming that your son is fairly young if you are talking about his caregivers? Obviously, a baby/toddler/preschooler is going to require a lot of hands on care from his caregiver. That's more of a nanny than a teacher and we're not talking about nanny's.

As far as his teacher from Israel goes, it is great that you were happy with her. You have no way of knowing if she was as great with her American students as she was with the kids in her own country. Will she likely ever see your son again? Will she likely ever see the kids in her hometown again?

My son is in elementary school. I honestly don't care how his teachers/caregivers work with kids from their home countries; I care about how they educate my child and the children in our community. The teachers I've known from other countries have been excellent at educating our children, both academically and socially. And, yes, I'm friends with those former teachers and caregivers on Facebook, so we do "see" each other frequently.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no requirement to say the pledge or even support this country to remain a full and protected citizen. We are not required to participate (vote) in the governing of it either. The opinions of ignorant people who think that their notion of what others should do SO FAR does not supersede what the constitution protects from being imposed on others. I say the pledge when I am somewhere it is said but because I love my country and the freedoms allowed I do not judge individual choice or feel that the flag wearing, hand on heart, proudly allegiance maker is more a part of this country than my fellow citizens who no neither or even go so far as to turn away from the flag (or 'take a knee'): we are a great country because all of this

You don't have to like kids. Heck, you can really, really dislike kids. But that would probably make teaching out of the question for you.

If your goal is to help educate our future U.S. citizens I would hope that you at least like our country and that you aren't secretly hoping that Switzerland kicks our school children's academic azz.

But their job is math and reading, not political indoctrination. You are really delusional.

The bottom line is that a teacher vested in the well being of America is going to put more effort into teaching young American children than a English citizen vested in the well being of England. I suppose you will need a multi million dollar study to prove that though .

Anyone who has chosen teaching as their profession has a vested interest in the children in their class exceeding their potential. Regardless of what country they might be citizens of or what pledge they might say at the beginning of the day.

An American teacher who is planning to raise her kids and retire in America is going to view this country differently than a visiting teacher from another country. Someone from Europe is not going to care as much about American kids' futures as an American teacher will.

This is absolutely bizarre. My son has had caregivers from Brazil and Nigeria, and they took amazing care of him. He has had a teacher from Israel, who was as excellent a teacher as any American I've known.

FWIW, they don't say the pledge at his elementary school, nor do we in the school in which I teach. And we live in "flyover country."

I'm assuming that your son is fairly young if you are talking about his caregivers? Obviously, a baby/toddler/preschooler is going to require a lot of hands on care from his caregiver. That's more of a nanny than a teacher and we're not talking about nanny's.

As far as his teacher from Israel goes, it is great that you were happy with her. You have no way of knowing if she was as great with her American students as she was with the kids in her own country. Will she likely ever see your son again? Will she likely ever see the kids in her hometown again?

Anonymous wrote:If the children are required to say it, the teacher should say it as well. That's just basic respect. This idea that "I don't have to follow rules if I don't agree with them" is infecting our culture. My family members served in the military. They didn't agree with many of the rules, but you can't have everyone making it up as they go along. Following rules is what makes us civilized. The teacher is entitled to free speech, but not at school where the rules require saying the pledge, unless you've taken a (real) religious exemption.

Students are not required to say it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no requirement to say the pledge or even support this country to remain a full and protected citizen. We are not required to participate (vote) in the governing of it either. The opinions of ignorant people who think that their notion of what others should do SO FAR does not supersede what the constitution protects from being imposed on others. I say the pledge when I am somewhere it is said but because I love my country and the freedoms allowed I do not judge individual choice or feel that the flag wearing, hand on heart, proudly allegiance maker is more a part of this country than my fellow citizens who no neither or even go so far as to turn away from the flag (or 'take a knee'): we are a great country because all of this

You don't have to like kids. Heck, you can really, really dislike kids. But that would probably make teaching out of the question for you.

If your goal is to help educate our future U.S. citizens I would hope that you at least like our country and that you aren't secretly hoping that Switzerland kicks our school children's academic azz.

But their job is math and reading, not political indoctrination. You are really delusional.

The bottom line is that a teacher vested in the well being of America is going to put more effort into teaching young American children than a English citizen vested in the well being of England. I suppose you will need a multi million dollar study to prove that though .

Anyone who has chosen teaching as their profession has a vested interest in the children in their class exceeding their potential. Regardless of what country they might be citizens of or what pledge they might say at the beginning of the day.

An American teacher who is planning to raise her kids and retire in America is going to view this country differently than a visiting teacher from another country. Someone from Europe is not going to care as much about American kids' futures as an American teacher will.

This is absolutely bizarre. My son has had caregivers from Brazil and Nigeria, and they took amazing care of him. He has had a teacher from Israel, who was as excellent a teacher as any American I've known.

FWIW, they don't say the pledge at his elementary school, nor do we in the school in which I teach. And we live in "flyover country."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Of course, half the time I don't say the pledge because I just really don't feel like it, and instead stand there quietly observing my students and trying to think of a compliment for each of them that I can say before the end of the period to empower them. Seems like a better use of my time, but maybe I'm actually bringing down our country from the inside by my lack of pledging.

Revealing statement. You have missed an important teaching technique: Always set a good example. Or, "modeling".

Ahh...but I am modeling. I'm modeling how to be a polite, kind, respectful, and independent thinker. I teach 16 year olds. They need that far more than they need to see that their teacher can memorize.

Nah, you are taking the opportunity to zone for a few moments. Totally understandable and not scorn worthy, but not praise worthy, either.

Anonymous wrote:

Of course, half the time I don't say the pledge because I just really don't feel like it, and instead stand there quietly observing my students and trying to think of a compliment for each of them that I can say before the end of the period to empower them. Seems like a better use of my time, but maybe I'm actually bringing down our country from the inside by my lack of pledging.

Revealing statement. You have missed an important teaching technique: Always set a good example. Or, "modeling".

Ahh...but I am modeling. I'm modeling how to be a polite, kind, respectful, and independent thinker. I teach 16 year olds. They need that far more than they need to see that their teacher can memorize.

Anonymous wrote:

Of course, half the time I don't say the pledge because I just really don't feel like it, and instead stand there quietly observing my students and trying to think of a compliment for each of them that I can say before the end of the period to empower them. Seems like a better use of my time, but maybe I'm actually bringing down our country from the inside by my lack of pledging.

Revealing statement. You have missed an important teaching technique: Always set a good example. Or, "modeling".

Oh FFS give it up already. You sound unhinged.

Of course, half the time I don't say the pledge because I just really don't feel like it, and instead stand there quietly observing my students and trying to think of a compliment for each of them that I can say before the end of the period to empower them. Seems like a better use of my time, but maybe I'm actually bringing down our country from the inside by my lack of pledging.

Revealing statement. You have missed an important teaching technique: Always set a good example. Or, "modeling".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An American teacher who is planning to raise her kids and retire in America is going to view this country differently than a visiting teacher from another country. Someone from Europe is not going to care as much about American kids' futures as an American teacher will.

I have students in my classroom who are citizens of a dozen different countries. I guarantee you I teach them all to the best of my abilities, never giving one student better instruction than another because of their nationality. I went into teaching to help children, not just american childnen. I guarantee you I would feel the same if I went to teach in a different country. Teachers love seeing light bulbs go on for kids, no matter where they are from or where they will launch their careers.

Yes, in your American classroom you treat all of your students the same. And some of those kids who are not citizens today may become citizens tomorrow. And those kids will be the tax payers running this country and taking care of YOU in your old age. You have every reason to invest your time, attention, energy into educating them to the best of your ability. Their education, or lack thereof in some cases, will absolutely impact YOU quite directly.

But...if you went over to England to teach for a couple of years, site see, etc. You would do a good job I'm sure but your commitment to those kids is short term.

The fact that the kids will likely one day pay taxes that support is the furthest thing from my mind when I write my lessons. I don't know any teacher in my building who looks at education from a lens of, "how will this benefit me?" It's all about helping the kids. I really don't see how moving to another country would make me less invested in my daily classroom activities.

Of course, half the time I don't say the pledge because I just really don't feel like it, and instead stand there quietly observing my students and trying to think of a compliment for each of them that I can say before the end of the period to empower them. Seems like a better use of my time, but maybe I'm actually bringing down our country from the inside by my lack of pledging.