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?

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 an atheist also, though my kids are too young to have formed an opinion yet (though my preschooler recently declared that he believes in the Tooth Fairy, Santa, God and the Hulk). Just tell them not to do it if they don't want to. This is not a problem unless you make it one.

I also think it's silly to pledge to a flag of all things, but it is so, so unimportant.

Our charter school does not even teach the kids the Pledge of Allegiance never mind have them say it every day. It does bother me a little that they don't say it, though I admit I haven't complained about it. I would agree wholeheartedly if they decided to say the Pledge of Allegiance each day, even if they decided to drop the "under God" and say it the way it was when Congress officially recognized the Pledge in 1942 since "under God" was added a few years later, right? Or, if they do say it the way it is now, those who object to "under God" can just refrain from saying it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Yes - "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands...."

If my guess based on the previous comments, the school in question demographics may not; although they do live in the U.S.A and not to mention those who worship Allah or don't worship God at all.

You don't have to if you don't want to.

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?

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.

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.

If it's their IB school they have the right to attend. Maybe they can instruct their kids not to recite it.

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!

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.

Well isn't that just too bad.

You might want to consider homeschooling.

Anonymous wrote:

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

Yes - "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands...."

If my guess based on the previous comments, the school in question demographics may not; although they do live in the U.S.A and not to mention those who worship Allah or don't worship God at all.

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.

Anonymous wrote:There was a REALLY long thread on this topic in 2012 on the general education board. Maybe should just read that and not rehash? http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/259122.page

Or maybe have a discussion about the topic at hand instead of reading about something that took place 3 years ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a REALLY long thread on this topic in 2012 on the general education board. Maybe should just read that and not rehash? http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/259122.page

Seriously though, that was three years ago. Are topics verboten for years after a long thread?

And seriously protests were filed, complaints were made. And it's still being recited. Maybe it's helpful to know that this didn't just happen/isn't new

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

Yes - "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands...."

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.