Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in school?

I have always been fairly patriotic, but at the same time we were founded on freedom. I think that constitutionality aside, disciplining someone for demonstrating their opinion would be against everything we as a country are supposed to stand for. I personally would be saddened to see that happen, but what can you do when you base your foundation on freedom.To take away someone's freedom to stand or sit would be defeating the purpose.

I do think the Pledge of Allegiance needs to be said in school regardless of whether children stand or not. It is a part of who we are as a nation. I do not think it would be wise to require standing, or lawful to do anything about the refusal to stand.

I'm all for taking a stand, and all for teaching children to take a stand when the time and reason are right; but I guess I think children under a certain age should "go with the program" at school, simply because I think they need to learn to respect the authority of teachers and administrators when it comes to something like what "everyone" is doing as part of the routine school-day. Taking a stand often brings consequences, so that's something children need to learn too. And, they need to be ready (and mature enough) to understand that if they take a stand they risk the consequences.

If my kids and I were opposed to the pledge, I'd hope my kids would tell me that something was going on they didn't like, or they thought I wouldn't like. Or, I might think another approach would be for the child to speak directly to his teacher or some other "school adult" about his complaint. (Not all kids would be "brave enough" to do that, but I had two who were as early as grammar school, and so was I.)Either way, I'd want my child to know that there are ways to deal with things we find objectionable that are also ways that are reasonable and dealt with "through the right channels" (even if a parent needs to become one of those channels).

I guess I think that taking a stand in a more rebellious, public, way is something that's more appropriate for people once they're at least out of primary and middle school. I guess I think if the kid has an objection, the teacher ought to ask him why he isn't participating; and then should tell him he doesn't have to recite the pledge. I think he should be required to stand, though, because that's the "go with the program thing" that takes place in schools all the time, and that's important if the schools are to maintain order.

So, I think a kid should have the freedom to opt out of reciting the pledge, himself, and without disciplinary action; but I don't think he should have the option not to stand when the rest of the class is standing. Based on that reasoning, I think the school could "get him" just on the not-standing thing, and I think it would be constitutional.In the meantime, the kid could stand there and either tune out, or else listen to everyone else reciting the pledge and ponder what the words do or don't mean to him.

It's a bit "lter youth" for my taste. I like America, but I think actions speak louder than words--or pledges.

He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once"."Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action!

It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder. "-Albert Einstein.

Wolfissac - Spoken like a true fascist. What a horrible stance to condone punishment for those who disagree with YOU or the establishment. I guess you forget why this is supposed to be a great country that exemplifies FREEDOM in actions, words, deeds.

Not some mob mentality that seeks to silence opposition, regardless of how you or other mindless tyrants feel. Maybe you would feel more at home with Pol Pot in charge or Stalin. Sending people to the Gulags probably right up your alley, especially when they don't toe the line with your philosophy.In truth there is nothing "spectacular and profound" about a robotic child who does as he is told or simply because others are also doing it.

That is real laziness incarnate. Like that idiot in the elevator who turns around because everyone else who entered, did the same. Forgot the name of that psych experiment?

That my friend is the definition of sheep and is what is wrong in America. No critical thinking and mob mentality. Since you feel Einstein has no credibility outside Physics, here is a few for you to ponder:Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons. - Bertrand RussellPatriotism is the virtue of the vicious- Oscar WildeYou will never have a quiet world until you knock the patriotism out of the human race.

-George Bernard ShawPatriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels. - Samuel JohnsonPatriotism in its simplest, clearest, and most indubitable signification is nothing else but a means of obtaining for the rulers their ambitions and covetous desires, and for the ruled the abdication of human dignity, reason, and conscience, and a slavish enthrallment to those in power. - Leo TolstoyA true patriot is one who questions blind authority and any symbols thereof.

I remember reading Tolstoy’s words that “to call a man a patriot will be the deepest insult you can of him. ”Then again, the best one I remember was:“Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”If not, I guess the fascists can always send us true patriots for water boarding at Abu Ghraib.....since that's usually what tyrants do to any opposition. Conformity=Control.

There is nothing spectacular and profound about a child refusing to stand for the pledge. Usually its simply laziness or disintrest. So therefore they should be punished because discipline is essential to life.

That said if you find the plege objectional you can get out. Its a small saying that is used to symbolize and exemplify what the US ideally stands for. And frankly Valoric Fire Einstein may have been a brilliant physicist but a genius philosopher he was not.

Sometimes it's best to keep out of things you don't actually understand.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.