Anonymous wrote:All 500+ of us said it for 13 years in my nova public HS/MS/elem graduating class. We turned out fine. Most of us are very liberal to boot!

I don’t get the complaint. It takes 1 minute, and you don’t have to mean it, and you don’t even have to participate. And it shows a tiny appreciation for what we have.

I agree. And, I'm the kid of immigrants, FWIW.

However, this is Montgomery County. I'm pretty sure if you're bothered by the pledge, you could get some other parents together and ban it in MCPS. I would bet that would be a successful campaign actually. MCPS might even spend some money, form a committee, get some 'feedback' from parents, and have an independent agency run a report.

It's crazy, because parents don't seem willing to band together to get MCPS to take action against the ridiculous number of sexual predators in school, or to get a solid curriculum implemented in ES. However, a cause like this would very likely get lots of support. I'm not from this area, and this is such an interesting county, IMO.

I was born in the US and I find it creepy too. My kids do it, which is fine, but if they ever didn't want to, I'd be totally fine with that. It's weird.

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

Maybe you need to get on a boat and return to whatever third world ghetto you came from.

Anonymous wrote:All 500+ of us said it for 13 years in my nova public HS/MS/elem graduating class. We turned out fine. Most of us are very liberal to boot!

I don’t get the complaint. It takes 1 minute, and you don’t have to mean it, and you don’t even have to participate. And it shows a tiny appreciation for what we have.

Gosh, there's allegiance for you...?

All 500+ of us said it for 13 years in my nova public HS/MS/elem graduating class. We turned out fine. Most of us are very liberal to boot!

I don’t get the complaint. It takes 1 minute, and you don’t have to mean it, and you don’t even have to participate. And it shows a tiny appreciation for what we have.

Anonymous wrote:

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

This is why many of us are frustrated. You want to come here and benefit from the economy and from the protection of your rights, but don't feel "allegiance"? This is a civic ritual, and if it "brainwashes" kids into valuing "liberty and justice for all", I'm good.

"Many of us", who? I'm not frustrated. I understand that feeling allegiance, and saying the pledge of allegiance, are two different things. One may feel allegiance but not say the pledge (me, for example). One may also not feel allegiance but say the pledge.

-person who was born in this country

Anonymous wrote:

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

This is why many of us are frustrated. You want to come here and benefit from the economy and from the protection of your rights, but don't feel "allegiance"? This is a civic ritual, and if it "brainwashes" kids into valuing "liberty and justice for all", I'm good.

It is all right to feel "allegiance". It is another matter to ask people (including kids) to say those words out loud in public many times when it is not really necessary.

I think it is not hard to understand.

For example, do it when getting one's citizenship, is certainly ok.
Asking kids to do it daily at school, is, on the other hand, is brainwashing - I understand brainwashing is part of life so it is ok too - just some of us do not realize it.

I am from another country but am now a Citizen here. My kid says it every day at our MCPS Elem school. I don't love it but I don't hate it either. If she ever tells me she doesnt want to say it I will tell her to stand or sit respectfully while it is being said.

Anonymous wrote:

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

This is why many of us are frustrated. You want to come here and benefit from the economy and from the protection of your rights, but don't feel "allegiance"? This is a civic ritual, and if it "brainwashes" kids into valuing "liberty and justice for all", I'm good.

This.

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

This is why many of us are frustrated. You want to come here and benefit from the economy and from the protection of your rights, but don't feel "allegiance"? This is a civic ritual, and if it "brainwashes" kids into valuing "liberty and justice for all", I'm good.

Anonymous wrote:Our DCPS does it only on Mondays

+10

It’s part of the kindergarten social studies curriculum in MCPS. The Silver Spring school where I teach says it every day. I teach my students what it means so that they understand the context if they decide not to do it. I personally do not say the pledge, but I do stand as my way of showing respect.

Our DCPS does it only on Mondays

Yes, and I agree it is creepy.

No, our school doesn’t do it. And I’m glad.