119 replies to this topic

[rodeo]

http://www.washingto...0022303889.html

The mother of a 13-year-old Montgomery County middle school student is demanding an apology from a teacher who had school police escort the youngster from a classroom for refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that students cannot be forced to salute the flag. Maryland law explicitly allows any student or teacher to be excused from participating in the pledge, according to the ACLU.

The incident began on a Wednesday in late January, when the girl did not stand for the pledge. Her teacher yelled at her, demanded that she stand and then sent her to the office for her defiance, Quereshi said. The school system confirmed the sequence of events.

The next morning, the girl again refused to stand for the pledge. This time, the teacher called two school police officers to the classroom to escort the girl to the office.

[Mesmer]

I get it. It's illegal and she shouldn't be forced to, the teacher is insane, etc.

But seriously what a brat.

[rodeo]

good. all the greatest people in history were brats. this country was founded by brats.

she should be applauded. the pledge of allegiance is authoritarian propaganda that should be eliminated from schools altogether. it flies in the face of what the country was founded on.


it was written in 1892 by a socialist named Fancis Bellamy. this is the Bellamy Salute that accompanied it.

Edited by rodeo, 25 February 2010 - 03:32 AM.

[Delhomeboy]

............I'm always of mixed feelings about this. I mean, obviously the girl shouldn't have been steamrolled out of the classroom, but authoritarian propaganda? A nation of dissenters? Eh, I don't know.

[cookinwithgas]

Proud graduate of Edward Bellamy Middle School. He was Francis' brother and wrote some cool books.

The Pledge was created out of a contest dreamed up by a company wanting to sell more flags to schools. In the 50's this little piece of advertising was hijacked by the religious right in order to get everyone on board with the idea that the Christian God was in charge against the Russkies.

Yet you would think that it was some holy poem invented by Thomas Jefferson himself.

[cookinwithgas]

That being said I have no doubt that this girl was just wanting to stir the pot and the teacher needed to restore discipline to the classroom.

[MadHatter]

That being said I have no doubt that this girl was just wanting to stir the pot and the teacher needed to restore discipline to the classroom.

Agree. I respect her right not to say the pledge. However, I am certain she was not voicing her policitcal position. She was being a pain in the ass and trying to cause trouble.

I am certain that they cannot force her to salute or say the pledge. Not sure if the whole standing thing is legit.

Can a teacher force a child to stand? I would think they could.

[rodeo]

That being said I have no doubt that this girl was just wanting to stir the pot and the teacher needed to restore discipline to the classroom.

their school handbook specifically prevents students from being embarrassed if they choose not to participate in any pledge, anthem, or patriotic exercise.

how are students to be expected to follow rules when the teachers don't? you can't restore discipline by breaking the law.

[Happy Panther]

Wow. The teacher has no right to make the kid say the pledge nor stand for the pledge.

This is coming from a guy who thinks forcing a haircut is a grey area.

Fire the teacher.

[pstall]

this is why I say you don't even teach evolution or creationism in school. Leave any slippery slope topic to the parents or guardians to teach.
Be as apolitical as possible in school at least until high school and just simply focus on the basics that will get a kid an education.
Look at all the issues in the country that stem from those borderline iffy topics and then all the focus ends up like the article.
You want to do the pledge. Do it at home. Want to pray? Do it at home. Want to wear a tshirt protesting something? Wear it at home.
Go to school to learn and interact with other people and when the final bell rings, go get your controversy on..

[Ccat]

Want to pray? Do it at home.

If someone wants to pray, why should they have to do it at home?

[Cat]

this is why I say you don't even teach evolution or creationism in school. Leave any slippery slope topic to the parents or guardians to teach.

Ridiculous. What if math goes against someones religion, I guess we shouldn't teach that either cause facts could offend someone.

And lets not teach about the Holocaust cause there are some people that believe it never happened, it could offend them.

Edited by Cat, 25 February 2010 - 11:09 AM.

[pstall]

I'm all for praying at school. But I understand the constitution.
As for math going against religion not sure where or how but again, if you are going to teach one thing, you must teach or present another to allow true critical thinking.
Otherwise you are loading the facts that you want.

[The Link]

That is utterly ridiculous. If she didn't want to participate in the pledge, then she should have been allowed to sit there and mind her own business.