Let's End the Pledge of Allegiance in Schools

[LWolf]

33. Okay.

It will HAVE to come from outside the system. This is a hot-button issue; so many families, community members, and those inside the system have an emotional (and illogical) investment in that pledge.

I can't advocate from inside. I have to follow my superiors' directions, which includes taking part in the pledge every day. So I stand silently while the school recites, which anyone is allowed to do if they want to abstain.

When my students ask me why I'm not saying it, I reply, "I've said it before. As far as I'm concerned, if I pledge my loyalty, I don't need to do it again unless someone thinks I'm faithless or a liar. If I'm either of those things, saying it every day isn't going to make me any different. I either mean it or I don't."

I don't tell them that I don't mean it. I don't pledge loyalty to a government. My loyalty belongs to people and to ideals and principles.

As far as I'm concerned, striking out "under god" isn't enough. We shouldn't be conditioning children to recite loyalty oaths at all. It's nationalistic propaganda that trains people to automatically support a government that may or may not deserve their support, and conditions them to support that flag and that nation in repeated wars.

But maybe getting rid of "under god" is a good beginning.