The Pledge

[Bucky]

Poll question: The Pledge

Do you?

[Ken Burch]

1. If I were a teacher, I'd lead those who wished to join in Bellamy's ORIGINAL Pledge:

"I pledge allegiance to MY FLAG, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, WITH EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL"(emphases added by me).

The original Pledge was to one's own conscience, the only thing a true American SHOULD pledge allegiance to.

[goddess40]

2. Who ever voted to make 'em stand would get a visit from me

My kids don't say it and they don't stand. They sit quietly and read or just wait for the hypocrisy to be over.

[endersdragon34]

4. Sounds like you don't really let them say it or stand...

I can't imagine that no kid in the classroom would want to say it...

[goddess40]

9. It's their choice and I support it

If they stood and said the pledge I wouldn't know - it's just when they come home saying the teacher either ridiculed, embarrassed or yelled at them did I find out they chose not to partake.

[shesaidshesaid]

10. I love you, but you must be in a liberal district (or have been there many years)

If you work in a rah rah conservative district, good luck with that one.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. When I taught school,

we didn't say it unless a kid asked to or the principal wanted us to. A lot of times, I had Witness kids in my classroom, and I told the kids the strength of our nation was in the fact they DIDN'T have to stand or say the Pledge. I stressed the Constitution, which is the document to which we owe allegiance, imho, rather than a piece of cloth.

[Lorax]

5. The pledge isn't about a piece of cloth.

The Pledge is about the ideals that the "piece of cloth" represents. Do you really think it's just about the flag?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Yes in part

because you are pledging allegiance to the flag. That's what the first line says. To me it gives the flag, often a symbol used by the military, too much importance.

[Bucky]

8. "...AND to the Republic for which it stands..."

Like most rituals, it's a complicated thing beneath a simple act. As a history teacher I get the luxury of making sure my kids learn exactly what all is involved in the pledge and the connection between the flag and the meaning of a republican form of government. I think a lot of teachers only get to see the outside of the ritual. And of course some conservatives have gotten so obnoxious and so damned "king of the hill" about the flag, I can understand why they might mistakenly stumble into reaction formation and take their anger out on the Pledge itself. It was written by a Christian socialist minister who wanted to de-Eurofy a generation of immigrant kids. Its meaning is something entirely different today, of course. But another thing about rituals is that they end up meaning almost whatever it is you want them to mean.

[LWolf]

7. Other:

Our whole school begins the day in the gym. We meet our classes there for morning announcements, messages, and flag salute.

Students are required to stand and face the flag. As are all adults present, as well.

Mine do. So do I.

Some students recite. Some don't. I don't. Sometimes I join in on the last line, "with liberty and justice for all."

Then we go to class.