Schools and citizenship and patriotism. Do most schools do like my child's schoo

1. 47

   Ericdierkerposted 7 years ago

   Schools and citizenship and patriotism. Do most schools do like my child's school and do the Pledge
   
   of allegiance every day? And do they do the National Anthem regularly? And is the American flag the centerpiece of most activities? Do they have pillars of Character all about the place? At our monthly "Spirit Circle" is it normal to only have about 10% of the parents? Are they still getting the same funding from the feds like ours?
   Just a check up from parents or teachers please.

   replyreport
2. 70

   shanmarieposted 7 years ago

   I don't know about most schools, though I assume that most still say the pledge. In Texas, they say a pledge to the Texas flag after they say the pledge to the US flag.
   
   "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."
   
   Of course, I had to look that up because, unlike my kids, I didn't grow up here and never said anything other than the Pledge of Allegiance each morning at school through elementary school.
   
   They play the national anthem before the football games, but unless a teacher is doing a patriotic lesson plan, they don't necessarily focus on it as part of the curriculum any other time. Usually, if listened to or practiced, it is something for music class.
   
   No pillars of character, but they have to sign a student code of conduct and parents have to sign it, too.
   
   I don't know what a spirit circle is. Is that part of a private school thing? Or part of the part bloc schools there.
   
   Oh, when I was in elementary school, our librarian made us recite something she wrote every time the class went to theibrary. Probably all of us remember it by heart and the lessons it teaches just by knowing it. " Life is short; therefore I shall be a crusader in the fight against ignorance and fear, beginning with myself." And she always made us point at ourselves with our thumbs when we said that last part.

   replyreport
   1. 47

      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Fantastic, My wife being an immigrant made us put the Anthem and the Pledge on the refrigerator and say it each morning so we knew it by heart, Our spirit circle honors excellence for each class. We raise up achievement. Public school, high divers.

      replyreport
   2. 70

      shanmarieposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting. I hope you get more answers soon. A friend I've known since elementary school asked a similar question about what kids say in addition to the pledge in other schools and if they can opt out of saying it. She had interesting replies.

      replyreport
   3. 47

      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      We just did a County Library deal. How much fun, a blow up slide, nachos and horrible flamigo dancing. Mariachis And the flag as a centerpiece. I reckon we just do patriotic around here from Ethiopian to Mexican.
      I am proud to be an American.

      replyreport
3. 72

   Jennifer Mugrageposted 7 years ago

   I home school, but based on a comment made by one of my kids' friends, they do say the pledge of allegiance in public schools in our area.
   
   I have my kids say it - not every day, but several days a week.  They also say it at their Scouts meetings.
   
   I don't know about patriotic songs.  I remember being taught "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" during the very first week in Kindergarten, but I'm aware that times have changed.  There were quite a few patriotic songs that I never learned as a kid ... only as an adult when I did a year with my kids focusing on American history.  Including the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th verses of the National Anthem, which I have to say are pretty good poetry.
   
   I have dear friends, whom I respect deeply, who object on principle to saying the pledge of allegiance.  They feel that it resembles a religious ceremony, as if we are giving our country actual worship that should go only to God.  Witness that, after saying the pledge, our tendency is to want to say, "Amen!"
   
   While I understand this position, I don't agree with it.  I don't understand the pledge as being an *unconditional* statement of loyalty, as if to say, "I will side with my country WHATEVER that requires me to believe or do."  Right in the pledge, it lays out the values that we are pledging to: "Liberty and justice for all ... under God."  I take this to mean that, in the event that we were asked to do something for our country that violates the values of liberty and justice for all, or that violates the law of God, we are not bound by the pledge.  Sometimes true loyalty is, indeed, shown in civil disobedience or respectful opposition.
   
   Nor do I think that demonstrations of loyalty such as saying the pledge or singing the national anthem, are statements that our country is better than others.  I would expect citizens of other nations to sing their own countries' anthems and say their own pledges, being loyal to their own countries, and this is right and good.  As I understand it, an American citizen saying the pledge is not saying "America is the best country," but is rather saying, "American is *my* country.  I am loyal to my own country.  This is where I belong." 
   
   We all have a need to know who we are and where we belong, and this is why, even though there are higher loyalties than country, I am still happy to have my kids say the pledge.

   replyreport
   1. 47

      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Let us all take note. Let us all say the pledge in our heart and not for others.
      Let our children know the pledge and danged well think about it. Our union is not made stronger by blind obedience and tribute It is made great through our freedom.

      replyreport