Question....Your kids say pledge in school?

[elizm]

I was just wondering because....I just got one of these forwarded emails which was a petition to Bush asking him to reinstate the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. Now I have been an elementary school teacher in the public schools for 24 years and I guess I missed that memo because we still say the pledge and always have. I was just wondering if this was another right wing propaganda trick to make the public schools look bad. Feedback please....those of you who have kids in public schools.

[cal04]

1. I work in a public school on Long Island, NY and yes we

say the pledge every morning. Different kids everyday do it over the loud speaker

[HockeyMom]

13. Long Island too

And if they didn't want to stand or say it, nobody forced them. One 8th grade boy, was Wiccan. He left during the Pledge every day to go to the bathroom. He said, "I don't pledge to any piece of cloth or god."

[cal04]

15. Hi HockeyMom

In my school you have to stand but they do not make you say the pledge.



:hi:

[kath]

26. FYI, It's unconstitutional for them to make you stand.

I believe that was part of the ruling in Barnette.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Yes.....

another right wing propaganda trick to make the public schools look bad.

[HockeyMom]

3. I ws a TA up until last year

In Elementary Schools here, the kids and the teacher said the Pledge. In Middle Schools, one student said the Pledge each day over the PA system. The kids could stand and say it if they chose to. Actually, a few chose not to and left for the bathroom. In the HS, it was left up to the Home Room Teacher. Some said it, some didn't.

[baddemo52]

4. Every Day

My 7 year old son says the pledge every day. Of course I'm in Virginia, so the Constitution is pretty much null and void here.

[HillDem]

10. Welcome to the DU

:hi:


Hey, but at least Kaine won.

[rfranklin]

5. I was at the local high school one morning, everything stopped...

while they receited the pleadge of allegiance over the PA system and in the classrooms.

Another right wing lie.

Morris County, NJ

Must be in the red states where they ban it.

[countingbluecars]

6. A minute of silence is

followed by the pledge in Virginia schools.

[leftchick]

7. My children are in private Catholic School and say it!

That is why I was a little taken aback on Friday morning. I had an appliance installer here, who I know is a bushbot. He was out front in his truck while my children's school across the street did announcements and the Pledge, along with a Hail Mary.

Awhile later while inside he said to me, I am surprised they are letting the children still say the pledge of allegiance. I said, what are you talking about? He said he heard it is a big controversy now about having them say the pledge at school.

Now I thought he was talking about it being on the intercom, not actually saying it so....I told him I had never heard that one. I said I would think the neighborhood might have more of an issue listening to The Rosary than the Pledge.

Good golly! Thank you! Now I would guess that this is a RW/Faux news bullshit NON-ISSUE to fill the heads of the bushbots with rage against those damn Libruls!

[baddemo52]

9. Under God

The controversy involved a CA court ruling that said that the "under God" part, which was added in the 1950's at the behest of some wingnut preacher is unconstitutional. I think the 9th Circuit of the SC reversed, but i am not sure..

[elizm]

12. This email doesn't mention...under God

...it only asks to reinstate the pledge of allegiance...which is very misleading...and perhaps on purpose.

[elizm]

11. If you just heard it on Friday...

...and I got the email today...I guess this is their latest scam of the bushbots because they are spreading it from Texas to Ohio to South Carolina (the cities listed next to their name). Unfortunately the person who sent it to me chose the wrong person because I DELETED IT...along with the other 1800 names on the list.:evilgrin:

[Silverhair]

8. Yes, and proudly so.

Opposition to the pledge is a real vote winner. Ask Dukakis.

[elehhhhna]

14. Yes. Then they pledge to the State Flag of Texas (oy)

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Yes we do

I got that email too and I posted it here. Another DUer did a search and found that same list of names - in exactly the same order - on TWO other petitions.

[f-bush]

17. Yes they do

and they say God in the pledge...if my wife wasn't working for the school district, I would sue...however in the interests of family harmony, I have to let this one go.

However, I do tell my daughter that people who insist on doing that (or making others do that) are Christo-fascists.)

[burrowowl]

18. I don't know

not having youngsters in school.
But in 2nd grade had to rememorize the pledge to put the under God in it.
And some European friends of mine, when they came to vist here, were askance.
Only NAZI Germany has ever had and required a pledge.

[BlueCaliDem]

19. Yes, they do, in elementary, junior high, and now high school...

...but none of my children pledge the allegiance, although they stand up in respect for those who have fallen for the flag.

Pledging the allegiance is against our faith, and except for a couple of Republican teachers in elementary and junior high (in a heavy Latino and Democratic town for heaven's sake!) who've tried to force my children to pledge along, it was generally respected.

They simply tell them that it's against their faith and although they get angry glares from across the room, they leave my children otherwise alone.

Well, except for one snotty Republican, a Mr. Soijka who is a real Bush fan!

He actually tried to force my daughter to chant the pledge, but I taught her well, and my then 11 year young daughter (smart little cookie) calmly explained to him, that it's the PLEDGE of Allegiance, which by definition means, it's a thing given, not forced, he backed off a bit.

When he tried to scold her, she simply pointed out that she's patriotic enough because she stood in silent respect, and added that her aunt is, and has been, serving the country for years, then followed that one up with: "Is anyone in your family serving now?"

That shut him up.

When I heard this, I wanted to call the school and give him a piece of my mind, but my daughter and her friends told me that my daughter got him more than enough.

And I agreed with them. :grouphug:

[Bluesplayer]

20. I always sat down for the pledge

in 1970-71 when I was in high school. The black arm band didn't make me fit it very well, either. I feel like I'm back in those times again.

[Neil Lisst]

21. I left it up to them, and told them it was up to them.

It didn't make me do anything but resent it for having done it throughout school. Kids don't like to stand out, so I told them do whatever you like and I'll back you.

They are solid libs now, having lived through the process. I think it doesn't accomplish its stated purpose, because kids almost universally hate being made to stand to say it. By the time they're free of the overbearing requirements of such school tactics, they never want to say it again.

I pledge to be true to the ideals that made us great. Pledge Allegiance? Not to some rightwinger's notions of patriotism.

[SillyGoose]

22. My son does (Florida). Here's what Snopes says about this...

So, for now the only area in which the Pledge of Allegiance is in need of being "restored" is a handful of public schools in the Sacramento area. Moreover, whether the most recent ruling regarding the Pledge is overturned or expanded is a matter to be decided by federal courts or by Congress and the state legislatures (should someone propose a constitutional amendment to settle the issue). Sending a petition to the President is one way to try to ensure the chief executive is aware of public opinion, but he has little power to resolve the issue being addressed (save indirectly by appointing federal judges or influencing Congressional votes).

Those who wish to ensure the continued recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools would probably be better served by expressing their concerns directly to their state legislators and Congressional representatives.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/pledge.asp

I got the same forwarded email you mentioned. It is very misleading.

[Cairycat]

23. Every day in elementary, over the PA

with "under God" too. My family doesn't recite the Pledge because of religious beliefs. Every year before school starts, I send the teachers a letter explaining this, that my children may sit or stand. Of course they stand because they don't want to be spotlighted.

Only one teacher had a problem, but it was with the idea that some Christians would find the pledge idolatrous. The older two have had a few run-ins with classmates over it. I think in junior and senior high it's only at assemblies and such, so any lack of reciting the pledge goes unnoticed.

My family was at a Minnesota Twins game in July 02. The national anthem was played, and my family stood to show respect, though we don't put our hands on our hearts. All around us people were sitting and not seeming to notice. I couldn't believe that all these mainstream people were ignoring this, less than a year after 9-11 and all the patriotic displays that were going on then.

[TriMetFan]

24. First of all I would like to say Thank You for being a Teacher.

Your job is the most important job there is. You teachers are with our kids 8 hrs. a day 5 days a week. And for what you teachers make, I again Thank You for doing this most important job. Now I can't believe that there is one school out there that doesn't let a child say the Pledge of Allegiance. All this is just a bunch of Bush Shit.
My kids say The Pledge of Allegiance and also they prayer. The prayer part is because they go to a Catholic School.

[kiraboo]

25. Here in Maine

the kids must stand while it's being recited, but my teenage daughter has refused to say the thing since the shrub was elected. She was spoken to once, but not forced to change her habits. My six-year-old recites it every day. Incorrectly, of course. He's only six.

[NativeTexan]

27. Texas for sure!

Someone has been listening to O'Reilly again...or Limbaugh!

[alcuno]

28. I'm in a very liberal city and we say it every day.

It's a complete non-issue. I think the problem is "forcing" patriotism and "forcing" religion. In areas where that happens, there is a push back.