Teachers' Understanding of the Pledge of Allegiance
Introduction
Current social context demands that we see people either as flag-waving patriots or traitorous war protesters. American social institutions have supported this dichotomy by fostering a haven from the complexity of the world situation since 9/11: come in, they seem to say, and say a prayer for our country, sing the national anthem, recite the Pledge. These institutions know that familiar words act as aural blankets. We wrap ourselves with vocabulary and cadences that soothe our souls, repeating words without thought.
Although the custom had fallen off prior to 9/11, a great many American public schools begin the school day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The recitation of a promise to support the flag and the country it represents constitutes an oath that is said by almost every student and teacher daily. We are concerned that the recitation of the pledge has gone unexamined by both teacher and student. While it may be acceptable for religious institutions to demand oath without analysis, public schools should be and are held to a different standard. Fostering the critical analysis of the documents that have supported our country is part of the rights and responsibilities of the American school system and those whom it employs.
In this paper, we will begin the process of exploring what actually happens to the recitation and analysis of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. Our primary question for this initial work is: What do teachers think about the Pledge as it is used in their classroom?
Background
Research on the Pledge of Allegiance. In the last thirty years, there has been surprisingly little study of this particular ritual in democratic participation. The majority of this work tends to focus on the legal issues concerning refusal to say the Pledge (Knowles, 1992; Urofsky, 1995). This work effectively summarizes the current legal understanding of the relationship between state law and local school governance, that while states have a compelling interest to encourage democratic education in schools, their ability to mandate such participation is effectively limited by the Constitutional obligation to protect freedom of religion (Minersville School District v. Gobitis, 1940; Urofsky, 1995).
In addition, there was a small cluster of studies that occurred around the U.S. centennial examining how the Pledge was being used in the context of democratic education (c.
... Since its inception, the Pledge of Allegiance has been and is still used as a sign of respect to the country instead of a religious practice.
In the 2008 the United States Census Bureau, Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population, The Christian faith proved to be the more dominating religion out of all religions. So it would seem the words “Under God” would be beneficial for the majority, the Pledge of Allegiance allures and supports the loyalty of the majority of citizens. The nonbelievers of religion have had the right to not recite the pledge since 1943 but have been asked to quietly stand while the believers recite the pledge in its entirety. Even though leaving out “Under God” is not a difficult task we can clearly see a division has now developed, opposite of bringing the people together. Another example that shows the pledge allures and supports a loyalty to the majority of citizens, the acceptance and encouragement to keep ...
Johannes Brahms was a German Composer, Pianist and conductor of the 19th century or the Romantic period. He was one of the 3 B's or the Big three: Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Johannes was a very self-critic man he burned many of his pieces before he could get anyone's opinion on them and he burned all of his compositions that he wrote before the age of 19.
The kid’s got no respect, man.” (Rodriquez 19). His teacher becomes furious, because the boy does not want to say the anthem like the other students. He feels obligated to say the anthem, and many readers can relate this aspect to the United States Constitution, where every human being is supposed to have freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, but of course, since the United States is the mother land, all those who live there have to obey their rules.... ...
There is a two word phrase in a thirty-one word sentence that has caused one of the largest debates in the U.S. history. The wording of the Pledge of Allegiance has been debated since the phrase “under God” was added in 1954. It was on Flag Day in 1954 that President Eisenhower and congress changed the phrase “one nation indivisible” to “one nation, under God, indivisible" (Haynes, Chaltain, and Glisson 154). The Knights of Columbus had urged the change to make it different than similar pledges that were recited by “godless communists” (O’Connor 1). Congress had also believed that it was consistent with the religious roots of the country at the time (Haynes, Chaltain, and Glisson 154). Ever since that day in 1954 there has been controversy whether the phrase “under God” should be incorporated into the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written and published in 1892 without the phrase “under God”. Since then the Pledge of Allegiance has been a significant pledge that children have recited in schools all across the U.S. each and every day. At one, time, refusing to salute the flag would result in expulsion, loss of friends, and even persecution (Haynes, Chaltain, and Glisson 152). The Pledge of Allegiance should continue to be recited in schools across the country, yet the phrase “under God” should be optional because it may conflict with some people’s religious beliefs, some people find it to be unconstitutional, and some people think that church and state should be kept separate.
Education Week talks about the freedom and practice of religion stated in the United States Constitution and how the government has altered that in their article, “Religion in Schools”. They touch base on how “under God” was taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance and elaborate how students can participate in religious clubs outside of school because of the placement of the federal Equal Access Act of 1984.
In almost every American school, students are required to say the Pledge of Allegiance. By doing this, they are forced to utter the two words that confess the authority that an ultimate being has over the nation they live in. Children are being taught every day that America is a country centered on God and a Christian nation. By making them say the pledge, the questio...
Laycock’s strongest argument is that the Pledge of Allegiance “asks for a personal affirmation: I pledge allegiance to one nation under God” (Rourke, p.41). Unlike “In God We Trust” which is etched onto each American coin, the Pledge of Allegiance requires children to profess their faith in God each morning. Whereas “you don’t have to read and mediate” (Rourke, p.41) the text on the coins which can easily be ignored when counting the change in your pocket, it is significantly harder to avoid the daily ritual of reciting the Pledge. Laycock furthers his claim by recognizing the link that “Under
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven are two of the greatest composers ever to write music. Both men lived in the early 18th and 19th century, but their music and influences are still felt today. The men faced similar experiences, yet they both lead very different lives. All together the pieces that these men composed amounts to over 300 published, and unpublished works of art. The people of their time period often had mixed feelings about these men, some “complained that Mozart’s music presented them with too many ideas and that his melodies moved from one to the next faster than audiences could follow, yet the ideas themselves seem effortless and natural, clear and unforced.” (Bonds 210-211) Beethoven’s criticisms ranged from ‘genius’ to grim dislike. Mozart and Beethoven were influenced by things going on around them such as: love, nature, and the Enlightenment.
...of the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, there is a balance demanded between the establishment and Free Speech Clause which is an absolutely irrefutable part of the Constitution and can only be interpreted to a certain extent by any Court. The present balance between these Clauses, as it is currently understood, is the duty of the public school teacher and administrator to uphold but teachers and administrators must be open to changes in the understanding of that balance as more cases shed light on the practices and interpretation of the First Amendment. It is the duty of the public school official, in whatever capacity they find themselves, to keep abreast of these changes so that they can properly execute their duties to both defend the neutrality of the schools and the rights of the students to hold and practice religious beliefs in the course of their daily lives.
Tubbs, Brian. "God, Country, and the Pledge of Allegiance." What You Need to Know about the
What good could come from refusing to say a pledge? But looking back on these examples of America’s cycles of injustice, I feel validated in my decision. All acts and bills attempting to remedy these issues have failed. America is not a place of freedom for many of its citizens. If other students realize their rights and recognize there is not liberty and justice for all in this country, there will be a revolution. There will be a revolution of youth refusing to stand for such
The Pledge of Allegiance is a saying most of us learn, memorize, and recite as a child. However, many of the students don’t give much thought to the meaning and depth of the words in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge dates back to 1892, according to USHistory.org, and though the words have been changed and altered over the years, its general meaning stays the same. The Pledge of Allegiance’s lyrics hold much meaning to me, the meanings of which I will be presenting piece by piece.
The German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, born in 1770, transformed music and revolutionized the history of music as a whole during his lifetime. As William Kinderman writes in his book, Beethoven, “His restless, open vision of the work of art reflects a modern and essentially cosmopolitan aesthetic attitude” (Kinderman). Born in Bonn, Germany, Beethoven was a visionary. He further expanded what his early contemporaries, Mozart and Haydn, had produced by escalating the scope of sonata, concerto, quartet, and the symphony. Beethoven was a radical composer who did not like to do what everyone else was doing; he pushed his limits to create the extraordinary. People argue that Beethoven was the composer that transitioned music from the Classical
I attended and graduated from William Tyler Page Elementary school in 1989. So you can imagine my excitement about this assignment. Especially considering my school was named for the author of the American Creed. Written in 1917 as a response to a contest on patriotism. It was later turned into a resolution that was passed by the House of Representatives in April of 1918. Within the creed rests an implicit and deeply-held conviction in freedom and equality. Embedded within are several inherent including the right to democracy, liberty, and freedom of religion. On the other hand, it also outlined the obligation of citizens for what is owed to the country in exchange for these liberties.