Pledge of Allegiance

Hi R., sad to say I have heard about the schools not doing our country's Pledge of Allegiance...I know we have every nationality here in our country, that is fine, but yes this is America and they are here...show respect for the country you are in by standing and being quiet...as to our institutes of learning of our American ways....We are all Americans and this is All of Our Flag and and Allegiance to our Country we are living in, if you don't feel that way, then study in our country, respect our flag country and ways...then go home and complain! Sorry do feel that way, our children need to know where their allegiance is.. lb

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That is because of the wonderful seporation of church and state. We can not mention God in school. The pledge has the word God in it so...I am with you and think that it is a complete shame. I think things are getting a little out of control on the whole "no one believes the same thing so no one can talk about it" thing. People can not accept others differences if we can't have discussions about them. What are we teaching our children. To keep their mouths shut and not talk about their beliefs.

I have taught my children the pledge. If I know that they would net get into trouble at school, I would tell them to stand up every morning and say the pledge. They may get teased too for being "different". Is that not terrible, different for showing respect for your country and those who are fighting for us.

I found a quote and have it in my office. "Only tow defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ, for your soul, and the American G.I., for your freedom." I will never forget that.

Ok I am off my soap box. Good luck. If you find a way to get the school to change their attitudes let me know how you did it.

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Dear R.,
I suspect the lack of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is "political correctness" at its worst. While I was teaching fifth grade, I reprimanded a girl in my room who refused to stand and recite the pledge. She was a Jehovah Witness, and this faith does not recite the pledge. The girl refused to tell me why she did not participate, but the next time a group of people from her faith met at her house, she announced that I tried to force her to say the pledge! The mother was reasonable, called, and explained their faith. She also reprimanded her daughter for putting me on the spot!
Unfortunately we are living in a time where if something is offensive to one, the others lose their rights. I commend you so much for being concerned about this. It is appalling that schools have dispensed with this tradition. However, I would encourage you to display a flag and say the pledge as a family. You can teach them your values and the importance of this tradition. Your lesson will be stronger than what teachers would be allowed to teach. Best wishes to you. You are an outstanding mother!

Love,
L.

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My daughters who are in kindergarten and second grade at a public school say it every morning. They say God too!

We go to public school in a northern suburb and my kids say it every day!

My daughter goes to a Catholic school and they say the Pledge. I am not sure if they did in K though, it seems to me they said "Red, White and Blue, we Salute You" or some such thing.

I had no idea about this, after reading your question I asked my kindergardener if they recite the Pledge of Allegiance and he scrunched up his face and said "huh?". After saying it for him, he said they said it once at the beginning of the year but not anymore.
That is sad.

Unfortunately, not saying it has become the norm in many schools but not the rule, yet. Just like public prayer in school, someone got their nose bent out of shape and now the courts are trying to decide if reciting the pledge is a breech of church and state. Schools are trying to do the politically correct thing. I wish the ForeFathers of this Great Country would come and set us ALL straight on what they truly intended. Our children are missing out on a great heritage unless we, as parents, live it!

Sorry, but I couldn't read Janeen O's post and not respond.

In terms of what was said about Barak O'bama ("Also another tidbit..did you know Barrack Obama refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance, wear or salute the flag, and has said if elected will be sworn in on the Quran.. ")

That statement has been circulating in a FALSE internet rumor for some time now, no doubt to try to discredit him in any way by a particular party. None of that information is true and, if you really want to be informed of why it isn't, here is a link to snopes.com: http://snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp

They break down the statement (actually a much larger one) bit by bit, and explain how each statement made is just a rumor. I'm not necessarily an O'Bama supporter (it's too early for me to decide on ANY candidate) but I just can't support people making false statements as if they were fact. Folks, you can't take all the info you get from the internet (or certain, Faux News Channels) as truth -- you gotta go look it up yourselves -- then you're informed!

In terms of the Pledge of Allegiance . . . if I wondered why it wasn't being said, I'd just ask the teacher or the principal or an administrator before making any assumptions.

Yes, "One Nation, Under God" has taken a lot of heat (and, just FYI, it wasn't in the original pledge, if we're going to debate about the history of this nation being built on "Christian principles") but some schools use it and some don't. I'd start by just inquiring around.

Good luck!

I am an elementary school teacher and my elementary school says the Pledge of Alegience every morning, but my old one did not. To my knowledge, the state does not require students to know the pledge in elementary or say it daily. I don't know the middle school or high school curriculum. Sad, but true!

It is really important you be brave enough to speak up to the principal about this issue. I went through this in elementary school with my kids, a group of moms spoke to the person in charge and it was changed. Every child should know and speak the pledge DAILY! No excuse for a child not to learn that - if that doesn't work you might need to go to the school board. The key here, though, is that YOU need to be brave to deal with it and do what you know is right.

I am a substitute teacher and para-pro for my counties elementary schools. Some schools say it as a school each morning. Some schools don't but the teacher does. If it is a special needs classroom, a lot of kids don't talk, and so they do not say the pledge. It depends. One school I was at yesterday sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in music and than the music teacher taught them "Lift Every Voice and Sing", the African anthem, which is nice because it is "Black History" month and 90% of the school is African American, I was a para-pro at the time and my charge (caucasion) acted up half the time, disrespecting both anthems while dancing around and mis-singing the words. When she got back to the classroom she had to write out the words to both and was reminded about being respectful. But the music teacher had talked to the kids about both anthems and why they stand during them and so forth.
Some of the schools are in the same district, so it depends on the school and sometimes the teacher. I would talk to your step-daughter's teacher and see why he/she doesn't make it part of her (or his) schedule. Than I would maybe talk to the principal and then maybe the school board. Might be cool to teach your step-daughter the pledge at home and explain it to her too in the meantime. Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

I think it depends on the school.

I have 7 kids - 5 are in school and not a single one of them have said the Pledge of Allegiance in school. I find it very disheartening as well.

My son has been in 2 Van Buren Public Elementaries and in both they say the entire Pledge of Allegiance every morning followed by that says something to the affect of "I can learn, i will learn..."

Our schools say it. They also have never had any problem with Christmas decorations and such. It is probably based on where you live and the religion of the kids in that particular district. The magority of our town is Catholic. That is sad your schools don't say The Pedge of Alligance. If I were you I would get involved in the school your daughter will be attending and try to make some changes.

Hi R.,
I have 2 kids, both in High School, but they said the Pledge of Allegiance all through Elementary School. I still work part time at their Elementary School and it is still said everyday, on Wednesdays the children recite it in Spanish.
We need to teach honor for our country.

A little about me:
Mom of 2 teenagers angels, Sammi 18 and Matt 15. Married 19 years.

Who knows.

Get involved in the school - if possible. You may find out why. Don't go in trying to change things, go in trying to learn why they do things the way they do - then work for change for the good of the school. Make sure the school has flags in every room too.

Our school, as a whole, says the Pledge daily. What a great time of the day!

If you can't get involved, try to make an appt with the principal and ask your question. Then ask that the Pledge be recited daily. If that doesn't work - you can always go as high as the local Board of Education. Look at their policies - maybe they have a policy that says it should/shouldn't be said. If so, either way, ask them to institute the Pledge daily.

It is absolutely ridiculous, but I think it's because of the phrase "one nation under God", that's why schools deem it "inappropriate"

We live in Michigan and our kids still say the pledge and even "Under God". I love it here too because at Christmas we the kids still sing about Christmas. I know that it has come under fire in many places though. You do need to be involved you could just ask the principal why they don't say it and see what you get.... Take Care, Melisa

My kids are 10 and (almost) 6 and they sing the National Anthem and recite the Pledge of Allegiance at their school daily. I feel so proud when we attend sporting events that begin with the singing of our National Anthem and my kids know the entire song. Many adults around us at these events just turn and look at my kids and smile.

Now a days schools have done away with many things that we use to do. They blame it primarily on the cultural diversity. But when we use to say the pledge of allgience it was the proudness, and respect of being an american. This is where I think as americans we go wrong. We are conforming a little to much and becoming so devided that children lose there structure.

I would contact the teacher and find out what is going on. If the teacher doesn't have an acceptable answer (which really if they are not teaching patriotism, there is not one) I would be at the next school board meeting and find out what is going on in that school system. I might even get a petition started to show the school board you mean buisness about this.
Good Luck!

All though I am very sad at the way our country is going, I do have to add to my comments. I went looking and found this web site that gives the original pledge:

http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm

I just hope and pray our country doesn't go so far as to try and remove the God this nation was founded on from every aspect of our homes.

beacause the word "God" is in the pledge of alligence...great huh?

My kids still say it and they say God so I think it's highly dependant on the politics that are driving your current powers that be.

I just asked my second grader if she knew it and could she recite it. She had it down, minus two words she struggled with.
On the other hand, my pre-schooler had no idea what we were talking about.

*if it's a problem to say "God" you could have fun disputing the issue by making sure the school is well aware that our currency says "In God We Trust".

I was pleasantly surprised when my pre-Kindergarten son just started saying it one day word for word (learned in school). I don't know what the rule is for public schools. I can say the one that my sons attend say their pledge every day.

unfortunately its because of the word GOD in it...private schools do teach it though

Hi,
This is the first year we took our kids out of a Catholic school due to financial reasons. I had informed my kids of the changes they would face switching to a public school. Most of my friends kids go to public schools in various areas. Two of my friends kids do not recite the Plede of Alligiance because of the "Under God". Also at those schools they do not make reference to Christmas(there are no Christmas shows) or any other religious holiday. But at my kids school they currently go to they do both recite the "Pledge of Alligiance" They also say Christmas and they had a Christmas show they just did not sing any songs pertaining to Jesus or any religious aspect. I was however surprised to hear that in my daughters kindergarten class they talk about various religions and during various Holidays they make items pertaining to those cultures and religions. So for them I was wrong in all of the changes I thought would occur. Long story to make a point. It is most likey the location of the school and the surrounding areas or it could simply be that they could have had complaints so they therefore have swithched the normal routines we grew up accostimed to. The one friend I made reference to there were complaints at her sons school about religious topics being offensive and all at once everything was taken out.

Hi R.,
Yes when I was in school we did the Pledge of Allegiance as well. When my daughter started preschool they did it then too, but it was in a church (but not related to the church) and we paid for her to go. But when she started public schools they only do it on Fridays. I know her school does it, but other public schools in our area do not and are not allowed to do it. It's a "religon" thing and was made a big deal about. So now most schools don't do it because they don't want any lawsuites from parents. It depends on the school district and what they want to do.

Hi Rebeca,

my son is first grade now and they say the pledge every morning.

i believe that all schools still say the pledge every morning.

if i were you, i'll contact the school and have an explanation.

good luck

I thought all schools still said it but skipped over the line that says one g-d. I thought all schools still taught the pledge to kids.