The Pledge
This headline is breaking just about everywhere, bringing to life a debate that has been rather persistent in recent years about religious reference in public school.
I understand the motivations of both sides of the debate, but I do not see the importance of the issue. The Pledge might be more meaningful if recited every morning by folks in the military, legislators, or even government employees. But having children, many of whom are not likely to understand what it means to pledge allegiance to a nation, stand up and recite the pledge daily, guarantees that by the 3rd week of school, the repetition will become meaningless.
I remember saying the pledge in school, but only vaguely (it was always too early in the morning for coherent though, such that I had at that age). If the Pledge is so important to our nation, it would seem that there would be more opportunities in our society for adults to say it.
I do not think I have recited it since leaving the 8th grade (the entire venture was abandoned at my high school), and I cannot think of a venue where an adult would be requested to recite it (other than maybe when someone becomes a US citizen. New citizens end up learning much more about our nation than the rest of us).
Indiana law allows students to opt out of pledge. The law (20-30-5-0.5) was added this year: “The United States flag shall be displayed in each classroom of every school in a school corporation. The governing body of each school corporation shall provide a daily opportunity for students of the school corporation to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance in each classroom or on school grounds. A student is exempt from participation in the Pledge of Allegiance and may not be required to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance if: the student chooses to not participate; or (2) the student’s parent chooses to have the student not participate.”
September 19th, 2005 13:53
We recite the pledge before each Rotary Club meeting, as well as at school board, plan commission, county commisioners and city council meetings I attend from time to time.