Does it really matter if the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by grade school students were eliminated from the daily classroom routine?
If they take the Pledge of allegiance out of the classroom, it is just one more step this country as a whole is taking away from God.
If they take the Pledge of allegiance out of the classroom, it is just one more step this country, as a whole, is taking away from God. Our children, as CITIZENS of the United States, ought to pledge their allegiance to the country that they enjoy living in. And they ought to not try to remove the under God part out. Because if Americans remove themselves out from "under God" then in He will eventually take His hand of protection from us.
Posted by: 5c4ryCarI am opposed to abolishing reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in grade schools. I think it is important to have certain texts and traditions in common as a culture.
While some people feel it is an important matter of duty or patriotism for children to recite the Pledge of allegiance, I have other reasons: I think our culture needs shared texts and traditions that are part of our common language and heritage. In addition to building the fabric of culture, this also supports people as they lose short term memory. Many brain injured or elderly patients suffering dementia are able to share in reciting or singing things they memorized long ago.
Posted by: baltuteYes it does.
The pledge is brainwashing. It would matter.
Posted by: bossyburritoI agree
Saying the pledge of allegiance is extremely important. I am 16 and I have realized how stupid people have gotten over the years. I am part of the new generation and I will not stand for ignorance. Your country pledges itself every day. The fact that I can voice my opinion here. The fact that we have any of the cool technology's is because of the freedoms that many have died for. When people don't say the pledge they are ping on every American soldier that has died for this country. People do not know how lucky we really are. That we have the right to choice. I have been reading about other people arguing the opposite, and I just want to say, what does killing people in Iraq have to do with the pledge. The pledge honors those that have died and lived for this country. America is the best place on earth. It is the definition of freedom. democracy is only as good as we want it to be. I will grow up being a informed adult and I will fight against the evil that has started to grow within the united states. People say they have a problem with the words "under God" If you are a real patriot you will say those words with every ounce of pride. I do not believe in god yet I still say "under God." The words "under God" Were added to the pledge during the 1950's. It was ment to help stop the spread of communism, and communism is the exact opposite of America.
Posted by: AnonymousIt absolutely matters to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily.
We are Americans. Regardless of where we were born, if we are attending schools in the United States, we are Americans. And, as Americans, it should be that schools, meetings and other educational gatherings be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance not only out of respect for those who have given their lives but for those who continue today to work for their freedom.
Posted by: Ch4ddMcI believe it would matter greatly if the Pledge were eliminated from the daily classroom routine, because children may not see any form of love for the U.S. or patriotism at home.
The people of the United States so easily forget about the great aspects of our country, and so easily fall into petty fighting with each other, that I believe children do need to recite the Pledge every day in grade school. Parents don't always pass on to their children those things that the parents consider "obvious". Because parents don't do a very good job of frequently showing or talking about the best parts of the U.S. to their children, children could easily fall through the cracks, and never have any sort of patriotism instilled in them. Therefore, the recitation of the Pledge is important for grade school students.
Posted by: SourGerman91I disagree with removing the Pledge of Allegiance. It's important to remember the foundation of our country.
Patriotism might seem old-fashioned, but respect for history and our country does not go out of style. We also need to remember our fighting men and women who are in harm's way. We add value to their service as we take time to remember what our country stands for and to "pledge allegiance" to it.
Posted by: EIIswBeeYES IT DOES MATTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I most have been living under a rock I am just hearing about this. This is the most stupidest thing I've heard in the past decade the oath is not only about religion its about justice and liberty and our nation that is slowly being dumped on because of stupid $%^ like this don't like the fact that in the oath it says "under god" take it out they only recently put that in, it used to not have "under god" in the pledge its been revised 4 times . You want the oath taken out then you cant complain because you feel like you are not getting the justice you believe you should have, cause you don't. If my sons school is the same way I will be pissed. Now i do understand putting "under god" might offend some but don't take out the WHOLE pledge just because some one 50+ years ago said we should put in "under god". my wife just told me that because of some atheist they no longer prayed before soccer games don't like it, don't participate go kick the ball around no one is forcing your dam kid to pray with them, well they better not be and from what some people say that kids don't even know what it means my grade school teacher had us do an easy on it among other things and if they don't you should teach them plus if your kid says something for years and doesn't know what he/she is saying then sorry your kid needs to go back a grade. If your kid doesn't do well in school we should say ohh whats the point in going then if he/she isn't paying attention, meaning ohh they don't know what it means lets not teach it at all raise an army of retards. I guess if you all like the fact that we take out the pledge then we should go ahead and deface all money while we are at it look on the back of a dollar bill and figure it out. Now with me saying that watch there going to do that. this nation is supposed to be great, then something retarded like this happens. Do away with christian music and TV shows because there an atheist that don't like it, hay there's alcoholics out there we should make that illegal also. some people say that the government is going to turn this country into a communist country but in fact its the people that are doing it to themselves. So the ones saying that we should eliminate the Pledge are communists and you have no honor or respect. Makes me sick to my stomach, how does that make you feel?? To those saying "that it takes away from god" THAT'S WHY YOU GO TO CHURCH!!! someone else mentioned "its like Hitler" WTF indivisible meaning not separated into parts and Justice meaning a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, RELIGION, fairness, or equity. so in a why your using the oath to eliminate the oath, like a snake eating its own tale. This is what i mean by this is retarded and stupid.
when is everyone going to learn that you cant please everyone that we all have to compromise don't like it change it but don't take it out you might as well take a dump on the american flag while your at it.Posted by: AnonymousYes, it matters. We need to eliminate the pledge in schools.
First of all, young children are being compelled to recite it even though they dont know what it means. This is like brainwashing, like communism, like proproganda. Also, The use of the word god in the pledge offends atheist and agnogists. It also causes problems for students who dont believe in god or in the christian religion. They dont want to use gods name in a false statement every day, but they feel the need to, as their fellow classmates do. They fear bullying or are bullied. This problem could easily be solved by removing the pledge from the daily schedules at schools. If parents want their kids to recite it at home, fine, so be it. That's their choice. But schools should not compel students to say it daily and feel like they have no choice in the matter. I mean, seriously, have them learn it once and need to write it for a test or something like that. That's what happens with most of the things students learn, so we should apply this principle to the pledge of alliance. and besides kids of that age should not be forced to pledge anything, espicially not to the country. That's like making them make a blind promise to do something that they dont even understand. And ask any second grader or even third and fourth graders (and even some older kids) what the pledge means and they will tell you that they dont know. They dont understand most of the words and they dont understand what they are pledging, it is just a regular part of their day. This is mind numbing. They never think about it. Some, like me, realize what is happening when they grow older, but most dont. Most people never even question it. And they laugh at people who have an issue with reciting the pledge, as in they dont believe in christianity, or having a single god, or any gods at all. Or they are foreign students and dont want to make a blind pledge to a country that is not their own. Or the people who know that they can still be true patriots and support their country without pledging themselves to a flag everyday. Therefore, we should withdraw the use of the pledge of alliance in schools. Again if parents want their children to recite it daily, have them do it at home, where it will only affect their family and no one will take offense at any part of it.
Posted by: AnonymousI think it does matter that the Pledge remains a part of elementary school, because it helps foster a love for the U.S. in young children.
Saying the Pledge helps kids with love of their country. It gets them thinking about their allegiance to it, and it also helps them to feel more like part of it, even though they are just kids.
Posted by: darcyskaIt does matter if the Pledge of Allegiance is eliminated from the daily classroom routine because this will accelerate regional differences to the detriment of all Americans.
In 2010, America is a great, young country with tremendous upside. There is room to grow, a young population, and ample resources. What makes the country unique is that for 3,000 miles there is a common legal, economic, and cultural landscape. While this nation of immigrants has many ethnic backgrounds, after a generation most people consider themselves 'American' rather than anything else. The Pledge of Allegiance is a strangely important part of our identity. It conveys acceptance of everyone into a larger whole, a nation that is the last best hope for mankind. The US system has worked better than any other in history, asking children to pledge allegiance to it makes sense because it will nurture the seeds of love for the country and fellow citizens.
Posted by: 54mP5KryPtoThe Pledge of Allegiance should have meaning for our children. How will they learn what it means if they are not taught?
I am a third grade teacher and we do recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day. We also spend time throughout the year discussing what each part of it means. We are not just pledging allegiance to a flag, but also to our Republic (that's right, it's not a democracy). We also learn the preamble to the Constitution and sections of the Declaration of Independence. I believe it is important for our children to understand those founding documents of our nation, and we should begin introducing them to those great ideas early in their education.
Posted by: AnonymousBrainwashing?
Yes, it does matter if it is eliminated. But, I don't believe it should be eliminated. People are saying that it is brainwashing our children. How? Because the Pledge is a symbol of trust, allegiance, and respect for our country? Just because it has Under God in it does not mean religion is forced upon the kids. Why should we change what was written to help what we have today? It is called AMERICA! This pledge steers children to want to make their country a better place. Because individualism is taking over our country were forgetting that! Yes, you may not believe in God, but the men who put sweat, tears, and blood into making this great nation did. Stop looking at the pledge as "its brainwashing our kids because of religion" and take a step back. It's about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's about believing in something other than yourself. But most importantly, its saying, "ill stand by you brother/ sister of America" we can beat anything as long as we stand together.
Posted by: Anonymous
I believe the recitation of the pledge of allegiance of grade school students is useless,
Reciting the pledge every day is pointless. To the students, its just another thing they memorize and repeat but with no meaning, when I was in middle school, I still didn't fully comprehend what the pledge meant. Its a form of brainwashing students and putting words into their mouths, and even if they did take away the pledge, the least they can do is make it optional for students to recite it or not. When the students recite the pledge, that's precious time they could be using to learn something new and vital that might actually benefit them in their future.
Posted by: AnonymousI have seen no significant value in the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance in school.
There is no hard proof that the Pledge of Allegiance teaches kids to be loyal to their country. Most students just recite it as a requirement by the school. If it were to be eliminated from schools, I do not think it would make much of an impact. Kids should learn loyalty towards their country, and learn about their country, through instruction in class.
Posted by: AmusingKareemI don't personally believe that it really matters if the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by grade school students was eliminated from the daily classroom routine.
I think at that age, you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Reciting the pledge of allegiance is out of routine, not because you really know what you're talking about. I do think it is important for them to know the pledge of allegiance, but I don't think it would really matter to much if the tradition was absent.
Posted by: LorenaHThe Pledge of Allegiance is meaningless to most children.
When kids recite a couple of memorized sentences every day, they generally aren't thinking about the meaning of the words. Almost all American adults grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every day, and some of us are very patriotic and some of us aren't, so obviously reciting the Pledge had no effect. I don't think it's useful or moral to force someone to say something they may or may not believe in.
Posted by: N Schroeder 60Hitler Youth in America
When it comes down to it, it is the same robotic brainwash that Hitler used to take over Germany. It may not have as bad effects but it is the same process. We have this plegde burned into our skull so well we can repeat it in our sleep. But who actully understands the meaning? and also we don't say the orignal pledge. It was first written without any form of religon being a part of it but now WE have added "god" into the pledge. Somthing not everyone beilives.
Posted by: AnonymousBrainwashing? Really?
If everyone is worried about kids not knowing what they are saying, then why don't YOU as parents, guardians, or advisers teach them! If you think they are being brainwashed teach them what the pledge means, and let them decide for themselves whether they want to say it or not.
Posted by: AnonymousUnfortunately, it doesn't mean anything, it's just memorization and recitation.
Unless schoolchildren recite the Pledge of Allegiance, feeling in their hearts the true meaning of it, the recitation is pretty much pointless. It is a tradition, which is good in some ways, but it has no purpose. I believe people should learn the Pledge, and maybe the countless morning repetitions in school is a way to teach it. Other than that, though, I doubt kids put any deep thought into what they are saying. It's like memorizing the spelling of words or some other mindless task.
Posted by: PinkMychIt's useless and unecessary.
The pledge of Allegiance, however culturally important. is not necessary. Memorizing a line or 2 and reciting it every morining does not mean we are showing respect for anyone, nor does it increase our loyalty. I see the people around me faking it, rolling their eyes or just plain ignoring it. Many are encouraged to think "how dumb are the adults? making us do this kind of stuff?"
Posted by: AnonymousNo. It loses all meaning whenever it is imposed.
Kids do not comprehend the significance or meaning of it, and it is shallow and indoctrinating to force them to recite it daily. It also should not contain the words "Under God", because they were added in the 50s during the red scare. The original pledge was written by a preacher who intentionally left out any mention of God or religion. The pledge should be secular - those words have no place being there.
Posted by: AnonymousMore than just the words "one nation under God" are untrue today
So many words in our pledge are simply untrue, not even a reflection of what our country has transpired to become today, why have our children be puppet-on-a-string "patriots" brainwashed like all the adults out there? There is nothing even remotely "pro-American" in our pledge any more than the notion I'd be pro-self if I said I am the the best person in the world with no room for improvement. We are not indivisible, we are politically polarized, we are not a republic, we have become an empire which was highly against our founding fathers warnings, we do not have liberty and justice for all, only for some. We have people in prison for minor non-violent offenses like smoking pot then keep war criminals like Bush out of prison. Our kids need to be taught the truth, including about our horrific history of wars which cannot be sustained going forward, and the truth that war does not bring "peace and freedom." Enough already!
Posted by: AnonymousI do not believe the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by grade school students is necessary and its elimination would not matter.
The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by grade school students, though a pleasant and patriotic event, is still an unnecessary one. I can recall reciting the Pledge as a child and it held no meaning for me. If you were to ask the average grade school student, "What is the point of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance?" most responses would be a look of confusion or a pre-programmed response without any meaning behind it. To eliminate the Pledge of Allegiance in grade school would have no real world effect, other than angering some old-school thinking parents.
Posted by: TeenzAlwReciting the pledge of allegiance has always made me a little uncomfortable as it makes people into robots.
Every time I see a group of kids reciting the pledge I am reminded of Hitler's youth. Beyond that forcing people to do something that they do not understand, and I am willing to bet that most children do not get the full meaning of the pledge, is never a good idea.
Posted by: wahsfoneNo, the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in grade school is nothing but a waste of time, because the children have no idea what they are saying, and the pledge of a nine-year old is nothing but an attempt of brainwashing
No one ever tells the kids what the pledge means at that age, or what they are agreeing to. Many kids just stand up and fake the pledge, and in recent years it is optional to even say the pledge in class. The end result is that saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day is just a waste of precious time better served educating the children, which is the actual purpose of sending them to school. Public school is not about making children into devout patriots. It is supposed to teach them to the basics of reading, writing and so on.
Posted by: H_BairdIf you want mindless brainwashing of our children, then go ahead.
Forcing our children to recite a line daily, without them actually understanding the meaning of the words is tantamount to brainwashing. America, land of the free, should be just that. We should have a free choice in how we choose to dedicate ourselves to this country, not have it forced down our throats, without being allowed to first comprehend and understand what it is we are being made to repeat daily, in ritualistic manner.
Posted by: AnonymousDoes not educate students on the Pledge of Allegiance.
When kids are being forced to recite the pledge they are not learning anything about it and why it was created in the first place. I think that instead of having to say the pledge everyday, kids should learn about what it means and how the pledge influences them. (if it does.)
Posted by: AnonymousLet people decide as adults how much loyalty they feel to the country
The pledge, in my opinion, is a waste of time. No child in elementary school really understands what they are saying. It is just memorized and recited. When you are 9 years old, you have no idea, for example, how many people we have killed in Iraq or how many people have found anything but "liberty and justice" in this country. School, as already mentioned should be about educating the next generation. The level of patriotism one feels to their nation should be decided later in life, not through a pledge that feels suspiciously like brainwashing.
Posted by: Anonymous