Do you do the Pledge?

Do you (and your class) stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning? We do, and some of the kids (3rd grade) act like they have never done it in their lives! (Although I have not seen anyone of them at a loss for words when they are saying it.) The lack of respect that some of them show (not just during the pledge, but ALL of the time) really gets to me. Friday, my favorite student (but don't tell any of the other classmates) was goofing around during the Pledge. As a consequence, I had him stand in front of the class and say it correctly (hand on heart, etc.). He absolutely refused! After delaying the rest of the class for about 5 minutes, he went out to the hall to "think about" what had happened, while I got the other students started on their morning assignments. After a few minutes, he came back in, apologized to me (sincerely, no less!) and actually went to the front of the classroom and said the Pledge properly! I was so proud!

 

AWWW!!! That's more than you get out of some kids. They probably just don't even really realize why it is disrespectful.

We say it as a school as part of the morning assembly.

 

Only on Monday mornings, as part of our announcements.

 

Good for you pwhatley!!! And good for him. I can't stand when they don't show respect during the pledge. It's one thing to disrespect me, but I see that as disrespecting everyone who has ever fought for our country and I get really upset with them.

 

I don't do the pledge.

 

I don't like disrespect in any form. I think the maddest I have ever been was during my neice's HS graduation ceremony. Throughout the opening prayer, presentation of the colors, and Pledge of Allegiance, there were about 4 people (some of them GROWN!) behind us who would not shut up! They just kept up their inane conversation like nothing was going on! Aaarrgghh!

Actually, I was afraid that my cooperating teacher would object to the offense I took, but she backed me up 100%! I'm gonna have to think of some really special gift for her before my student teaching ends!

 

I do the pledge daily when the reading bell rings (it's the only way I can remember). My kids are military children and every one of them has had their parents deployed at least once in the last 6 years. They still try to be disrespectful, but we go through the pledge and talk about what each part means, that usually gets them to do it. If it doesn't I mention that they are not only disrespecting the flag and their country, but what their parents do everyday for our country!

 

We do it together with the whole school each morning.

 

We do it as a school, everyday during morning announcements. Then we have a moment of silence, which my students are still struggling with...

 

My 6th grade class did the pledge every day and when the class tended to slack off I played a DVD of Red Skelton Explaining the Pledge

http://patriotfiles.org/Pledge.htm

"I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance
all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you.
If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?"
I
me, an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge
dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.
Allegiance
my love and my devotion.
To the flag
our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever
she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given
her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!
United
that means that we have all come together.
States
individual communities that have united into 48 great states.
Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and
purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to
a common purpose, and that's love for country.
And to the republic
a state in which sovereign power is
invested in representatives chosen by the
people to govern. And government is the people
and it's from the people to the leaders, not from
the leaders to the people.
For which it stands, one nation
one nation, meaning "so
blessed by God"
Indivisible
incapable of being divided.
With liberty
which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's
own life without threats, fear or some sort of
retaliation.
And Justice
the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others.
For all
which means, boys and girls, it's as much your
country as it is mine.
***~~**~~***
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country
and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance...
UNDER GOD
(At this point I stop the DVD to avoid being overly political.)
Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said
that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too?​

 

I have this book that I use to explain the pledge. It uses more kid friendly words. I also have the poster that it comes with hanging by my flag.

http://www.amazon.com/Pledge-Allegi...1766347?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188101472&sr=1-2

 

We say it every morning, although I am always amazed at how many kids don't even look at the flag when they say the pledge. They think I'm being a nag when I remind them but I think they are just being disrespectful.

 

We also say the pledge as a school each morning (a student leads it each day on the announcements), and we have a moment of silence as well.

 

All of our campuses have the morning pledge, and some have a moment of silence. I also feel strongly about people being rude, talkative, ect during the pledge, but I also don't like that so many teachers push students to say the pledge--some I know even take a grade on it! I never said the pledge growing up (religious reasons I won't get into), but I was taught to also stand respectfully with my hands at my side until it is finished.

I plan to teach my students how to show respect during any announcements and especially during the pledge. It is like any other routine--if they have never been shown how to do it before (not recite it--they do all know that), and then I guess I can't expect them to exhibit the appropriate behavior.

 

We say it every morning and we say the state (Texas) Pledge right after it. It is a VERY big deal to say it respectfully. Some kids in fourth grade have spent the day in "in school suspension" for goofing off during the pledges.
BTW Texas ADDED One state under God to the pledge this year That shows you how Texas feels about it I suppose.

 

We say it every morning and every morning they hear my expectations as to how to show their respect: right hand on heart, left hand down (not in pocket or on desk), eyes facing the flag. When we're done, we sing the national anthem.

 

I tell kids who try to goof off that they have 2 choices: Say the pledge with respect or stand quietly with respect. Period.

 

I have mixed feelings about the Pledge, simply because of the 'Under God' part - I'm not an atheist at all - on the contrary, I consider myself rather spiritual, I just feel talk of God or religion really doesn't belong in public school... I do say it with my kids each day, and I tell them if they don't want to say it, they can just sit or stand respectfully.

 

We don't do the pledge... but I also think that just because kids didn't do it in the past (like, my class) doesn't mean that gives them an out or an excuse to be disrespectful... that wouldn't fall in line with other values taught in class.

 

BTW most schools in America in the 1700s and 1800s were church schools so it is interesting about this debate.

Since we only have Jehovah Witnesses who don't say the pledge I contacted the head of the local JW congregation to ask how treat the pledge with them, he told me They are to remain respectful of others who are saying the pledge they are to remain standing if standing or remain seated if seated and remain still and silent.

 

I also know that the term 'Under God' was only added to the pledge in 1954 during the Cold War... a fact most people forget.

 

We have a moment of silence and then we say the pledge. I have actually told classes in the past that during the moment of silence that I am praying for a good day and asking for patience and it is to their advantage that I get that prayer said!!
I always have my class do an assignment (later in the year) where they look up the difficult words in the pledge, so that they have a better understanding of what it is about.

 

When I taught 5th, we went over all the demanding words of the pledge and the Star Spangled Banner on a regular basis. We discussed when and where the anthem was written.

While the words 'under God' weren't added until the fifties, the assumption was that most of the early settlers of our nation agreed with a belief in God. (Please, let's not get into a drawn-out discussion about whether or not there were any atheists then, or whether or not most came from Europe for religious reasons, etc. I'm just keeping this simple and uncontroversial. There was not as much diversity then as now.)

Those who don't say the pledge, why don't you? Just wondering.

 

We say the pledge every morning. Each week I have a new leader who leads us. I have had students who will not say the pledge do to religious reasons so I have them stand out of respect.

 

We have a new leader each day. That person is the first in line for everything (Leading us), Takes lunch money to the cafeteria in the morning, Cleans the dining table when the class is finished, and (certainly not least of all) leads the pledge in the morning before we get down to business. I find it funny that I can hear these kids from down the hall when they are just talking and playing, but when they are asked to recite the pledge or read something out loud, their volume goes to nil!

 

It's a new requirement at our school to say that Pledge of Allegiance. However, for political reasons, I do not say the whole pledge with my children. I stop right before the "Under God" part, and that's it. All of my students, except for one says it, since our school requires it. For my other student, it is against her religion. I try to keep religion seperate from my subjects in the classroom as well

 

Our whole school says it everyday. We have a student (or 2) lead it. Sometimes we substitute it with the Star Spangled Banner.

 

I totally forgot about the pledge. I haven't seen or heard anyone do it. I did notice in the SS scope and sequence that I am supposed to teach "citizenship rights" and "the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance" I suppose we will be starting it. Thank you for your comments everyone.

 

My children come from all over the world. We discuss the pledge, I hand out the words, we go over the meaning. I also hand out the song that we sing in the morning as well. We always talk about whether or not they said something to the flag every day in their country, etc. I help them to make a connection to it.

 

My current school says the pledge every morning as part of daily announcements. I have also worked in districts that didn't say it all. I would guess politics/parent complaints (religious freedom) would be the reason. Personally, I feel more comfortable saying it each morning. We do not force students to say it, but they must remain quiet and respectful during that time.

 

We say the pledge each morning (and because I'm at a religious school we then say a pledge to the Christian Flag). I am still working on teaching my kids how to be respectful while saying it.

 

We also say the pledge each morning before morning announcements. When I was teaching middle school we also had a moment of silence right after the pledge.

 

For goodness sakes, this is our country, our flag, our national anthem. Every kid in every classroom should learn about our nation and know how to participate as a citizen in our nationality and respect its symbols. If their parents don't let them, that's one thing. Otherwise, I think we're negligent if we don't teach them.

 

Last year I taught in a high school that was 95-98% Mexican immigrants, mostly illegal. At graduation, when we were standing to say the Pledge, our principal was appalled (so was everyone else!) that the Mexican parents and families did not stand or even stay quiet, so he leapt to his feet, took the microphone and said,

"Ladies and Gentlemen, YOU WILL STAND TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THE COUNTRY THAT EDUCATED YOUR CHILDREN!"
They stood and got quiet fast! I was very proud of my principal.

 

WOW!

 

Me too! Kids learn manners and respect from their parents. Everyone got a valuable lesson that day.

 

Your principal was right. Good for him. He did it in a really classy way, too. I'm genuinely impressed.

As long as I choose to live in the States, I will be loyal to the States. If the time comes when I can no longer do that, I will relocate and pledge loyalty to my new country.

To live in a country and disdain its language, customs, etc. . . that is an incomprehensible mindset to me. It reeks of selfishness and laziness.

If I moved to France, I would learn to speak French. It would not be France's responsibility to teach me; it would be mine and I would do it. Ditto for any other country.

It should be that way here, too.

 

I work in a Christian school, so every morning, we say the "Pledge to the Bible", and then sing the "B-I-B-L-E" song, then we say the "Pledge to the Christian Flag" and sing the "I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N" song, then we say the "Pledge of Allegiance" and sing a patriotic song ("God Bless America", the national anthem, etc....it kinda varies)

 

Makes me want to stand up and sing
"God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home."

 

THANK GOODNESS! HE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT...... NOW THAT IS A TRUE LEADER!