Posted on 01/28/2009 5:42:17 PM PST by markomalley
A parent in the Clark County School District of Las Vegas, Henderson area reported today that his son, who is in 1st grade, came home yesterday saying that he didn't want to go back to school anymore.
When asked why, the boy said that during the Pledge of Allegiance the teacher put up a large image of Obama next to the flag.
Thinking that the boy might be exaggerating, the man asked his son if he was sure, and suggested that by "large" he might mean an 8x10 photo of the president. The boy apparently said "No, it is a large picture of Obama and when we are done, the teacher turns off the image."
The same thing was not done for President Bush last year.
After investigating this morning, the other parent reported that what the boy said was true.
At least three of the five classrooms have an overhead projector and as the children stand to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, the teacher turns on the classroom overhead and a full body image of Obama, with six U.S. flags behind him, comes up about 4 feet away from the flag that hangs on the wall. The screen is apparently around five feet by six feet.
In the image, President Obama appears to be staring straight out with no facial expression, just a serious look. All of the kids in each class faced the President, instead of the flag that hangs in the corner.
Local parents are up in arms over this situation. Teachers clearly do not realize the gravity of what they are doing.
bttt
Wow, thanks for doing the due diligence and researching that. I didn't know about the two-step salute either, and find it fascinating.
Almost makes me want to sit here and research all the various forms of salute through the ages (I believe the Romans had some good ones). Almost.... dinner is late, and finally beckons. Maybe tomorrow ;-)
Thanks again!
Updates from article:
Update Jan 28th: The parents spoke to the Vice-Principal this afternoon. He said he would take care of it. I will check with them tomorrow and update this story.
Update Jan 29th: The teachers at the school today talked to the children about flag etiquette and the meaning of the flag and why the pledge is said. The lights were left on, so the flag could be clearly seen and the children were told that they should face towards and look at the flag. The parent spoke to the Principal and the child’s teacher. The Principal said they would not show the image of the president at the same time as the pledge tomorrow. The Principal apologized for causing offense. The parent and Principal and teacher left on good terms.
[Did I mention that we’re all screwed? —TSR]
You do realize that Bellamy and his Pledge of Allegiance were Socialist, don’t you?
Oh yeah. Lots of good things have origins we sometimes have to wink at. The evolution of the wording is also interesting. You'd be surprised how many people think "under God" was in it from the beginning, for example.
Hail to the Chief ?????
“...particularly since it’s still our flag.
Good point. And remember, it has the word “GOD” in it. That must be an affront to so many people.”
Thank you for the reminder of an equally, if not more so good/excellent point. (I’m humbled by my omission)
I’m reminded of Fahrenheit 451 (we each have retained parts of our countries history). I hope that ‘life’ will not imitate ‘art’ (so to speak).
I thought nothing of your omission. I merely added it because I knew you would appreciate the point.
I hope we don’t imitate art either.
“...I knew you would appreciate the point.”
I did. (hope others also read it)
side note?: In my public school days, Mothers/Fathers were not encouraged to visit and participate in school days/programs but did so voluntarily (volunteers, where have I heard that recently mentioned?)
I look back now at the ‘embarrassment’ of having to go to my teachers house for dinner (I didn’t know how fortunate I was).
Thank you for the reply
Sounds like you had some great parents. Glad to reply.
“Sounds like you had some great parents. Glad to reply.”
...and Teachers (credit where credit is due)
Such is also probably true today (all is not what the media portrays)
‘nuff said, nrn.
I realize we do have some good teachers, but we’re not ranked as poor as we are in math for no reason. We have some work to do.
“I realize we do have some good teachers, but we’re not ranked as poor as we are in math for no reason. We have some work to do.”
Math, Science, English.
Business, business ethics... (why in heck is ethics even a course, never mind a recent requirement?)
(to which I’d add...who is going to teach ethics?)
Yes, there is work to be done.
I may be jumping ahead, but spending more money is not the answer (nor is focusing on the negative news reportage... perhaps there lies (sic) a problem?)
How do we as a country undo the lack of parentage?
You know what, my parents NEVER sat me down and made me do my homework. I did my homework. I do not buy into this latest excuse for teachers. Parents are not to blame for earning a living so they can provide for their kids. They are not to blame when teachers have their children five to six hours a day for nine months, and the children learn nothing.
We have children graduating high school without the ability read at a third grade level. Tell me how that is the parent’s fault. God how this pisses me off. Yes, the parents should have picked up on it, but for Christ’s sake, the profession educators had the kid all day long, that’s their job, and they take a total pass on their responsibility to teach.
The schools have these kids for 12 years, times 200 some odd hours per, and the kid can’t read at a third grade level.
I’m not going to say parents aren’t any of the problem, but please. Let’s be rational about this.
I attended a parent teachers meeting in California a few months back. The teachers were explaining how they were going to have the kids ready for the big testing, to verify the teachers were doing their jobs. And so they proceeded to tell me how they were going to study for the test. And that study was clearly going to be extensive.
While these teachers were droning on and on about this, I couldn’t help but think, these kids are being tested at grade level. What is up with your teaching, if they wouldn’t be ready without training for just the test.
Teach what you’re supposed to be teaching and the kids will be ready as a result of that.
We’ve got kid being told Martin Luther King Jr. was a sage and our Founding Fathers were slave owners. Don’t pay attention to those fools. We have our kids taught all sorts of problematic things about the U.S. via examples in math and other subjects.
I have advocated a one year hiatus in our school systems across the United States. We need to disconnect at the federal level, bring the schools back under the control of the local municipality, and let them have their own funds back.
Washington, D.C. has failed us. The teacher’s unions have failed us. The local schools their officers and teachers have failed us. I’d like to see about 25% of the teachers tossed out on their asses, and replaced.
I would urge local schools to set up corporate entities that would run the schools as non union shops. Then if the teachers decided to unionize, I would close that corporation and start another, hiring in new teachers to replace the others.
Yes, that’s hardball. Well, we’ve allowed the unions to ruin our schools, and I’m tired of it. It’s a new day. That just won’t do any longer.
I trust (after re-re-reading your reply) that we somewhat agree that there is a problem that doesn’t apply to all (teachers/students/parents)?
AND of course, most importantly, government?
While childless, I still pay taxes to educate children. (and I’m not against that)
I’m bothered (at the least) that I’m not able (nor are some parents) to be able to ‘sit in/monitor’ classes, should I or they desire to.
I hope that I took your post in the proper intent and that you take mine in the same.
I think you did.
Our education system is sinking as we discuss the matter. They play smoke and mirrors games with us. They change the measures by which they tell if kids are learning. If the kids aren’t, and we get wind of it, they change the measures again.
Who makes the new rules with which to fix the system? Why of course the same administrators and teachers that failed us for the last decade. They tell us what their grand plan is, and if we by chance look at it close we know it won’t work. And when it doesn’t in ten years we start all over. And if we complain, they tell us WE don’t know what we’re talking about. It’s a real riot.
No, I don’t mind paying taxes for schools. I do mind sending it to Washington and only getting back a percentage of the funds. I’d rather those funds stay in the school district where they were raised. Other than that, I’m on board.
I don’t want the federal government forcing UNESCO driven globalognia on our kids. I don’t want the activists, greens, leftists, reproductive rights, racial awareness, groups driving the agenda. I don’t want children medicated out of their minds because we have too many ‘brilliant’ people on the campuses and nobody with a lick of common sense.
Thanks for the response.
Um...did you see this?
It's the form of salute used by my mom and dad when they were in school. They didn't do it that way for long.
They were supposed to say "I pledge Allegiance" with hand over heart, then extend their arm out for "to the flag."
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