School punishes student for not standing during the pledge of allegiance

[Wreckem]

oh gee, it's in Texas...why I am not surprised.

There were schools in Texas(not sure if there still, are but I bet there are) that also do the Texas pledge of allegiance.

I honestly don't understand why schools start their days with the pledge of allegiance. It was implemented during WWII during war time. I understand why it was at the time, but the continued use since has made it fairly meaningless.

 

[senseamp]

What if a kid is a foreign exchange student in America? Should he be forced to pledge allegiance to a foreign country, just because he's just studying here for a year?

 

[MrPickins]

The kid should not be punished.




So long as he raged hard enough at the 2 Minutes Hate... :awe:

 

[Exterous]

Unless I'm mistaken, this has already been settled, years ago, by the SC. The kid is in the right; and I truly hope he sues for the civil rights violation. Forcing someone to say a pledge cheapens the pledge - at that point, it becomes a completely meaningless tradition; not that for the most part this isn't already true.

While I generally agree with you we only have the kid's version of the story. The school hasn't released a statement and we don't even have a statement from anyone (other students) who saw the incident. Kids will claim a lot to get out of punishment\get attention

Not saying that this is the case - just reserving judgement until we know more

 

[PokerGuy]

What good is having a right if you're not actually allowed to exercise it??

 

[Abraxas]

Am I the only one who thinks the pledge being used in schools is kinda quasi-fascist to begin with? I don't think it unfair to say it amounts to taking a bunch of children from before the age they even have the foggiest clue what is going on and make a ritual of them pledging loyalty to a flag and government every single day complete with mandatory posture and arm gestures. Does this seem like something you would expect to find in a nation where everyone is free and you are open to express dissent and grievance or in a nation where the state is absolute and your silent acceptance is mandatory?

In my opinion, it reflects poorly on us as a society we think we need to indoctrinate children to love our country instead of doing as best we can to make it worth loving when they grow up and can make that decision on an informed basis.

 

[tommo123]

i read that kids in the US once upon a time used to raise their arm in a nazi salute during the pledge (not linked to the nazis though) and stopped when it became the hitler thing to do

 

[piasabird]

Make him stand in the corner holding a small flag in the air over his head for about 1 hour every day while holding his hand over his heart like you are suppose to do for the national anthem. I think you can be made to stand for the Flag.

 

[fleshconsumed]

Am I the only one who thinks the pledge being used in schools is kinda quasi-fascist to begin with? I don't think it unfair to say it amounts to taking a bunch of children from before the age they even have the foggiest clue what is going on and make a ritual of them pledging loyalty to a flag and government every single day complete with mandatory posture and arm gestures. Does this seem like something you would expect to find in a nation where everyone is free and you are open to express dissent and grievance or in a nation where the state is absolute and your silent acceptance is mandatory?

In my opinion, it reflects poorly on us as a society we think we need to indoctrinate children to love our country instead of doing as best we can to make it worth loving when they grow up and can make that decision on an informed basis.

Yeah, the whole thing it's pretty much brainwashing.

 

[shira]

Make him stand in the corner holding a small flag in the air over his head for about 1 hour every day while holding his hand over his heart like you are suppose to do for the national anthem. I think you can be made to stand for the Flag.

It's possible that there are special ceremonial situations where requiring that everyone stand for the flag is allowable (though I honestly can't think of any). But I sincerely doubt that any court would be able to find a "legitimate state interest" in requiring schools in a state to enforce standing for the Pledge." If you think there IS such a state interest, please articulate it for us.