I remember my teachers explaining to the class what the Pledge meant line-by-line, but that didn’t sink in, mainly because the pledge uses words we hadn’t yet learned at that age (what 7 year-old knows the word “indivisible”?). What they should do is, each morning have one of the kids give a reason that he/she loves America, then spend a few minutes discussing it with the class. If any of it applies to the pledge, the teacher can explain the connection using the children’s own definitions. If it doesn’t apply, at least the kids are still learning reasons to love their country.
Also, have a schedule for which kid’s turn it will be to give a reason so they know it’s coming up and will have time to really think about the reasons they want to share.
I think that would help them understand it more than memorizing a mantra.
Yeah, uh, that actually sounds scarier than just having them say the pledge…
“Ok Timmy, tell the class what your reasons for loving our glorious, benevolent state are!”
All that does is heap more social pressure and potential ostracism on kids to get them to conform…
The deeper issue isn’t that they don’t understand what they’re saying, it’s that they’re being made to say it at all.
The banners and slogans of a state do not belong in classrooms.
It just breeds nationalism…
Comments
6 Comments so far. Leave a comment below.Pretty much the same as when I was a kid…
…except for the corporate mind-control drug.
We are sooooooo fucked.
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I remember my teachers explaining to the class what the Pledge meant line-by-line, but that didn’t sink in, mainly because the pledge uses words we hadn’t yet learned at that age (what 7 year-old knows the word “indivisible”?). What they should do is, each morning have one of the kids give a reason that he/she loves America, then spend a few minutes discussing it with the class. If any of it applies to the pledge, the teacher can explain the connection using the children’s own definitions. If it doesn’t apply, at least the kids are still learning reasons to love their country.
Also, have a schedule for which kid’s turn it will be to give a reason so they know it’s coming up and will have time to really think about the reasons they want to share.
I think that would help them understand it more than memorizing a mantra.
Like or Dislike:
0 
4
Yeah, uh, that actually sounds scarier than just having them say the pledge…
“Ok Timmy, tell the class what your reasons for loving our glorious, benevolent state are!”
All that does is heap more social pressure and potential ostracism on kids to get them to conform…
The deeper issue isn’t that they don’t understand what they’re saying, it’s that they’re being made to say it at all.
The banners and slogans of a state do not belong in classrooms.
It just breeds nationalism…
Like or Dislike:
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I don’t see what’s wrong with kids to knowing what is good about their country. They should know how well Americans have it and appreciate that.
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…or they could study math
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I always thought the pledge was such a cultish thing to do anyway.
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