New Texas Pledge Law to Cost School Districts (Texas Pledge required)

[kskiska]

Schools Must Display Texas Flags In Classrooms

SAN ANTONIO -- Students in Texas public schools will be required to recite a pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag beginning in the 2003-2004 school year.

A new Texas law mandates that students recite the Texas pledge after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

At a convocation Wednesday for teachers in the Northside Independent School District, teachers were given a card that has the words to the Texas pledge.

"I think that we should respect our country and our state and we need to support our state by having the children say the pledge every morning," said Grady Evans, a teacher.

more…
http://www.ksat.com/education/2405650/detail.html

[NWHarkness]

1. Pledging allegiance to the state??

Where are Grant and Sherman when we need them?

[Guaranteed]

2. What, no Bush pledge?

"I pledge my loyalty and blood to der Fuhrer, his highness George 'Dubya' Bush, and I promise never to make fun of his small vocabularly or act like I even saw anything when he chokes on or falls off things. As far as I'm concerned, George Bush is God."

:smoke:

[ieoeja]

3. Text of the Pledge

"Honor the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one and indivisible."


Given that the first settlers of European descent in Texas were of Spanish descent, I suppose it is appropriate they settled on a pledge that butchers the English language.

And why do Texans hate America so much that they must always be doing crap like this to set themselves apart?

[Guaranteed]

10. Texas indivisible too?

I thought it was the US that was indivisible. They can't BOTH be indivisible. That's a logical contradiction!
Someone should tell Ashcroft that Texas is trying to divisib the nation.

[missingthebigdog]

21. Thanks, BullGoose!

I needed that laugh today.

[Lostnote03]

29. LMAO!!!

."divisib"...LOL....Yea Ashcrack will jump right on this....

[LizW]

12. Oh, boo, how boring

I thought sure it would have the words "yee-haw" or "giddy-up" or "pardner" in it. If you're going to make up a state pledge, do it right, dammit!;-)

[jamesinca]

30. If I remember right TX is allowed to split

Maybe the rules have changed since I was in the third grade 20+ yrs ago, or maybe my memory is failing. I thought TX was allowed to divide into 5 states or parts if voted on? If this is true, how can they say indivisible?

[kainah]

36. I think you are right

Remember the separatist who wanted to establish the "Republic of Texas" several years ago? He and his buddies engaged in some criminal behavior. But I remember when the authorities were going after them that people mentioned there actually were provisions in the Texas state constitution for what he was trying to accomplish.

[LiberalFighter]

34. No one nation under God/bush?

nt

[kainah]

35. Isn't that pledge the lamest thing you've ever read?

I'm with you, ieoeja. Whoever wrote that one should spend more time in English class and less time worrying about silly pledges.

[Heddi]

4. the law MANDATES it?

so what happens if I, a hypothetical student, didn't say either pledge? Or what If I did the one to the US flag, but not the TX flag?

Are they going to dicipline the students for not being little lemmings and saying whatever the gubment says they should?

This is just perverse.

The day my child (of which I have none) is REQUIRED (meaning, will be punished if they don't) to say a pledge is the last day that child will attend public school. Shit---I'd become a Jehovah's Witness just so they could get the religious exclusion....

[study_war_no_more]

5. time for home schooling

Free Texa-SS

[Trek234]

26. Well I am a TX high school student

School started today. There was no pledge or moment of silence.

I don't know if the school district has decided not to follow the law, or if they just didn't want to have it the first day as things weren't normal. Probably the latter.

I will not be doing it should it be done. I'll let you know what happens...

[KCDem]

6. goddamnit, and we're considering buying a house.

Crap, DH and I moved here about a year ago. Haven't bought a house yet but are currently looking. This makes me want to stay even less. The state pride these people have is nauseating... ugh.

Don't get me wrong--I don't hate everything about this state, and the next time anyone on DU makes fun of Texas Democrats, they're going to have me to answer to (I went to the redistricting protest last Saturday in Austin--way cool!) But my God, why must we embarrass ourselves this way? Is it just jealousy that California is dominating US news or something?

[TXlib]

8. Well, we just tell our kids they don't have to say the Texas pledge

We tell them they can sit it out, and we send them to school with a note to that effect.

[bluestateguy]

25. It will end up in court

If the special session ever reconvenes they can appropriate the millions of dollars needed to litigate the case in court.

[neverforget]

7. Oh brother! What's next? A pledge to your county?

:puke:

[TygrBright]

9. So Texas woke up...

...one morning, and realized that they were falling seriously behind their rival, California, in the National Political Freak Show Fair, in spite of their classy "Coercive Redistricting" entry.

They had to act fast, finding something to outdo CA's innovative "Goober Open Stakes" exhibit, and this is what they came up with.

Never let it be said that the ol' Texas lege are slouches when the crunch is on...

admiringly,
Bright

[TXlib]

11. The poll on the website

Do you think that public school students should be required to recite a Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas flag?

72% said no (out of 186 votes)

Who do you think should pay for Texas flags that are now mandated to be displayed in Texas public school classrooms?

86% said the state should pay, instead of school districts. (out of 123 votes)

Apparently, this law was not consistent with the wishes of Texans.

Perry's a fucking asshole. I can't say more without crossing the line.

[GOPisEvil]

14. "Apparently, this law was not consistent with the wishes of Texans."

The Republicans in this state have this nasty habit of ignoring their constiuents, don't they? Rat bastards. :grr:

[DBoon]

13. Will Texas now leave the USA?

Oh please Oh please break off from the US.

Please break away and become your own military-governed plantation-economy banana republic and leave the rest of the USA alone.

Maybe let Austin remain part of the US - like Berlin in the Cold War.

[GOPisEvil]

15. Hey I don't want to get shot going over the barbed wire!!

;-)

[kathee]

16. I have two of them going to classes

this year. How the hell do I fight this? I don't want them to be compelled to pledge any damn thing. I want them to get their education, period. So, what do I do??

[Iris]

23. your children are not required to say any pledge

It's just that the schools are required to lead this charade at the beginning of each day and at ceremonies.

Of course, I'm not saying it will be easy for a student to sit down through this little exercise, but he has the right to not say any pledge.

[goobergunch]

17. IMO West Virginia State Board of Education vs. Barnette still applies (nt)

[GOPisEvil]

18. Here's the link to the law.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/78R/billtext/SB00083F.HTM

Parents CAN opt out of this, although I would think Barnette still applies...

[Trek234]

27. Yea the SCOTUS

ruling overrides state law, as always.

Students have a right to sit as upheld by the federal courts. The state law will likely be shot down in court accordingly.

[SteveG]

19. Students cannot be required to recite either pledge

In 1948 the Supreme Court of the U.S. declared that it was unconstitutional to force students to say the Pledge of Allegience. In West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943) The Supreme Court stated that students cannot be required to say the Pledge. It won't take the ACLU or Americans United long to take action about this.

[Guaranteed]

20. Don't these Repukes know this by now?

Don't they understand the concept behind the Bill of Rights? They must not, otherwise they'd stop coming up with this stuff. Their ignorance is astounding.

[LEFTofLEFT]

22. texas can be divided

When texas joined the union it was with the provision the texas could divid itself into four states.
This makes it possible for them to have 8 senators.

Can you say 8 "bugman toms" - This can't be tom's idea.

[bluestateguy]

24. question about the law

What if I live in a Bush-loving place like Collin County and I ask that my child be excused from the pledge? What if he is subjected to threats and intimidation from other students and teachers? Will the school district and local law enforcement protect him?

[Iris]

31. that's the thing about teaching your child to be an individual

You also have to be prepared to let them (and help them, if possible) deal with the consequences.

[GOPisEvil]

33. That was the gist of Barnette...

...it creates a hostile environment. By asking for relief from this law, you are creating a separate, unequal class of persons.

[alarimer]

28. Texas

I have been living here for 6 years. The people are very nice and friendly most of the time but many of them (including the well-educated people I work with) are the most provincial people I have ever met. The "Texas is the greatest place on Earth" is such annoying bullshit to me and I have lived all over the country. This is an example of a ridiculous law. Remember what Molly Ivins says, "When the Texas lege is in session, many villages are missing their idiots". Clearly the idiots were in charge when this passed, unless we are all the victim of a hoax.
The Austin Lounge Lizards said it best in "Stupid Texas Song":


Texas is a big state, North to South and East to West
Alaska doesn't really count, we're bigger than the rest
You can waltz across it, though, so grab your yellow rose
And sing another song of Texas--this is how it goes:

One more stupid song about Texas,
For miles and miles it rambles on
Biggest egos, biggest hair, biggest liars anywhere,
Let's sing another stupid Texas song

By God we're so darn proud to be from Texas--yahoo!
Even of our pride we're proud and we're proud of that pride, too
Our pride about our home state is the proudest pride indeed,
And we're proud to be Americans, until we can secede


One more stupid song about Texas,
You've heard it all before so sing along
Biggest belt buckles and boasts, love that big old Texas toast,
Let's sing another stupid Texas song

Our accents are the drawliest, our howdies are the y'alliest,
Our Lone Star flag's the waviest, our fried steak's the cream-graviest
Our rattlesnakes the coiliest, our beaches are the oiliest
Our politicians most corrupt, our stop signs most abrupt

Our guitars are the twangiest, our guns are the keblangiest.
Our cows are the Long-horniest, our yodels the forlorniest,
Our cookoffs are the chiliest, our Waylon is the Williest,
Our sausage is the smokiest, our neighbors are the Okiest

From Texarkana to El Paso, Dalhart down to Orange
Every spot in Texas has got what you're looking for
Aren'cha glad that Texas put the stars up in the sky?
If heaven isn't Texas, pardner, I don't want to die


One more stupid song about Texas, just 'cause we're braggin',
That don't mean it's wrong
Biggest heads and biggest hearts, biggest various body parts,
Let's sing another stupid Texas song

Toss your hats into the air, we're obnoxious (we don't care!)
Let's sing another stupid Texas song

One more blusterin', bumptious, bald faced, brazen, high flown, high-tone, dander-up, panderin', pompous, puffed-up, snotty, swaggerin', stupid Texas song!

[jsaro]

38. Dang, that's funny!

ROFL! Thanks for those priceless lyrics, alarimer. It's really hard to explain Texas to people. It is wonderful and absolutely horrific AT THE SAME TIME!!! I should know. I grew up in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas. I left at age eighteen, and vowed never, NEVER, to live in this backward, intolerant, godforesaken state. Ever. Again.

Well, over the course of some thiry-odd years, I lived in Louisiana, England, California, D.C, and Northern Virginia. Then, because of aging parents, it seemed best that we move back to Texas, but only to Austin. Yeller dawg Democrats like my husband and me are best suited to this Babylon on the Colorado. Seeing yard signs like "Bush for Lawn Ornament" really warms our librul hearts.

I thought I would hate it, even in Austin, because my youthful Texas aversion had been so strong. But I really love it. The Hill Country is gorgeous, the live music is fantastic, and (most of) the people really are great, even if a lot of them are very conformist and woefully unsophisticated in their views. The Texas "pride" lampooned so hilariously in the song is ridiculous, but as a native, I just tune it out. I've been hearing that crap since I was born. I just take the bitter with the sweet here in the ole Lone Star.

[alarimer]

39. I love that band

I think they are from Texas or at least are based here now. They have a lot of funny songs, including one called "gingrich the newt" and "jesus loves me (be he can't stand you)". My friends at work (native Texans all) don't think Stupid Texas SOng is all that funny. Go figure.
But I think it also skewers songs about Texas. There are literally thousands singing the praises so it is a sunject ripe for parody. I like a lot of things about Texas; maybe I just don't understand because I am not a native. It isn't even that people don't criticize Texas, they do but if an outsider dares to clain that any other place is a better place to live for whatever reason, they can't possible believe that. I've also met a lot of people who have never been anywhere else; more so than anywhere else I have lived. Some people I know have never been out of the state or worse, have no desire to.

[Rex]

32. Native Texan here

I've been wondering when Texans were going to say, "to hell with it" and break away from the United States. You laugh, but if you knew some of the people here in Texas (alot of them are my relatives :( ) you would know that I'm being serious. I personally think it is State Size Envy (Alaska's bigger - some Texans just can't get over this fact). :)

[Best_man23]

37. The Dumbya Pledge

I pledge allegiance to George W. Bush, immortal leader of the Bush family. And to the causes for which it stands, total wealth for the elite class, under God, with tax exemptions and Hummers as well, so help me God.