PTA: Parent, Teacher, Asshole

We Pledge Allegiance...

So, this week our new Director (we're too small to have a Principal *rolls eyes*) had a flag pole put up and we have the American Flag flapping over our little school. It's nice to see it everyday as I wander to and fro during the day.

One of the high school students was heard saying, "Aw, he's just trying to make us look like a real school." A telling account of how our school is viewed by its student body.

Well, a day or two later, at our faculty meeting, we discussed whether or not we would begin saying the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each day.

Do we make them say it? Does the presence of the phrase "under God" hinder rights just by saying it alloud? Hearing it said by another person? If they have the option of saying it, do they have the option to sit down? Lay their heads down? Can we make them at least stand up? Stand at attention and cover their hearts? Will it cause more problems than it's worth?

In the end, we decided we would start each day with the Pledge of Allegiance, we would require them to stand, we would not require them to say the Pledge, but to remain quiet while others whop chose to do so did so. I supported the requirement to stand. After all, if we can require that the students remain in their seats for an hour, we can require that they stand beside their desks for less than a minute.

And we've had zero problems that I am aware of. As a middle school teacher, I am not privy to all the little problems the high school teachers face. I don't have a first block class, so I'm not sure if my middle school students are actually saying the Pledge...but I do know this: One morning, I was outside when the office started the Pledge and I stopped, put my hand over my chest, and recited the Pledge. One of my students was outside as well, going to the office for one reason or the other. He saw me stop, and he stopped...I don't know if he put his hand over his chest, and I don't know if he recited the Pledge...but he stopped just as I had...and I hadn't given him any verbal or nonverbal warnings...he was standing and quiet...all our requirements were met. We've also had two middle school students volunteer to say the Pledge over the intercom. They weren't asked if they could...they asked if they could...they asked to say the Pledge to the entire school when they didn't hardly know it.

The complaints...

The phrase "under God" sets up a state religion in Christianity.

Well, except that "under God" could just as easily be "under god" (notice the lowercase "g"), or "under G/goddess", or "under Allah", "under Yahweh", "under Vishnu", "under Ahura Mazda"...Hell, I think teaching everyone to say the Pledge and inserting your divinity of choice would strengthen the Pledge...because, doesn't everyone want their government approved of by their diety?

The Pledge is an indoctrination tool to make young children grow into mindless slaves of the government...

Some of yo, hopefully, are thinking, "You can't be serious!" Well, check it out...

Here We Go Again

The Pledge: The Real Objection

You know...that's laughable. If it was that easy to indoctrinate someone into a mindset, then there would be way fewer problems between parents and children. There would be child parenting tips titled How to Mold the Perfect Child, possibly only available in Germany, but still! Remove the forced recitation, make it optional, and then it's just children seeing adults show respect to the symbol of our country and to the the government it represents. And respect doesn't mean that you always agree...respect but disagree with the government in power that year...It's just not that big of a deal.

posted by Bodog @ 5:11 PM