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MerryBlooms

(11,895 posts)
Sat Jan 12, 2013, 11:21 AM Jan 2013

I wouldn't want this guy within a mile of any elementary school.

<snip>

Dear School District 304,

As a courtesy I’m letting you know I’ve engaged the American Center for Justice and Law (ACLJ) as well as multiple conservative and verteran groups. I’m also contacting IL state legislators.

I WILL NOT stand for my children standing in front of the flag, hand on heart, reciting a corrupted Pledge of Allegiance that leaves out “liberty” and has students stating they will obey all rules and commands of teachers. I witnessed this first hand today and am ashamed. You are teaching fascism plain and simple. My children will not grow up as blind followers who don’t think for themselves.

I can think of no reason for having a separate pledge for kindergarteners and first graders then indoctrination of the young. Not going to happen on my watch. I’ve shed blood for this Country and will do so again if necessary.

My mother spent 12 years in a prison camp. I’m NOT ALLOWING you to introduce a Nazi way of life into the USA.

Kind Regards,

Colin M. McGroarty MBA, MCSE


As usual, the wonketteers are cheeky monkeys-
http://wonkette.com/496588/hero-patriot-dad-will-shed-blood-again-if-school-nazis-wreck-pledge-of-allegiance#more-496588

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surrealAmerican

(11,477 posts)
2. This is Illinois:
Sat Jan 12, 2013, 11:38 AM
Jan 2013

... children actually aren't required to stand and recite the pledge. He should have researched that a bit.

I'm not particularly fond of the "school oath" idea either. I thought they were mostly used in charter schools. In a public school, he could probably have his children opt out, so long as they sit quietly and don't disrupt their classmates.


As usual, it's certainly not a "Nazi Plot", but mindless recitation is the sort of thing we should be avoiding in our schools if we want to teach children to actually think for themselves.

MerryBlooms

(11,895 posts)
6. Dad could have quietly voiced his concern privately with the school's admin,
Sat Jan 12, 2013, 12:18 PM
Jan 2013

instead, he chose to go on a verbal attack and not only embarrass himself, but his children. I would hope he seeks out some professional help with his anger issue.

Neoma

(10,039 posts)
7. I got in trouble for wearing a hat during the pledge.
Sat Jan 12, 2013, 12:18 PM
Jan 2013

That etiquette doesn't apply to women though, and they didn't know that.

patrice

(47,992 posts)
8. I don't like it being an "oath", but I think it is useful and honest for all of us to clarify the
Sat Jan 12, 2013, 12:25 PM
Jan 2013

terms of our relationships to one another, in order to seek agreement and/or some degree of adaptation. Our culture has become way too devious about all of that, people avoid taking a personal stand in almost every way possible, so children KNOW very intimately just how arbitrary everything is and become more and more manipulative, just like their parents. In classrooms, clarity contributes to discussion and group processing and that's a good thing, especially as it creates opportunities for children to model for themselves how choices are made and also opportunities for teachers to avoid more punitive responses.

patrice

(47,992 posts)
4. Sounds as though McGroarty should read up a little on research in child development, with some
Sat Jan 12, 2013, 12:12 PM
Jan 2013

focus on their cognitive traits in how they are not the same as adult thinking in some very important ways, but then, perhaps McGroarty mistakes being a reactionary for thinking, so I suppose my point is moot, as McGroarty may not be capable of mature cognition himself, outside of following the rules associated with the letters after his name.

In regard to rules, it's sad and has horrendous consequences for child development that adults don't know the difference between freedom and there being no consequences for one's actions, for the latter is indeed slavery to whatever triggers the "lowest common denominator" and the former is the strength and ability to process reality and CHOOSE behaviors respective, or otherwise, as to the consequences of those actions.

It's also interesting that there is apparently no concern about "justice" in McGroarty's response to the 2nd-graders' pledge. Perhaps McGroarty assumes that justice is a given as long as there are no rules, so we should be asking ourselves who is the REAL fascist here.

DhhD

(4,695 posts)
9. Allowing guns to be held in a classroom invites, what I call, target thinking. In other words, has
Sun Jan 13, 2013, 11:22 AM
Jan 2013

this parent already devised a plan to take out the enemy? The teacher and administrators that push parent unauthorized allegiances.

This puts a new spin on the need for separation of Faith and State (Church and State).

DhhD

(4,695 posts)
10. Did this guy go in to the school to take a look at the floor plan so he could fantasize about taking
Sun Jan 13, 2013, 11:30 AM
Jan 2013

care of HIS problem? Having guns in a classroom could mean that a trophy is available (that flag).

I hope America does not open up classrooms to a war game zone for nuts.

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