Posted on 04/17/2026 1:49:57 PM PDT by lightman
The Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, blasted what she described as a troubling lack of patriotism among some public school teachers and administrators at an event titled “The Roadmap for Restoring American Education” at Yale University this week.
She recalled a moment in which a principal told her that students at his school did not know the words to the Pledge of Allegiance, and that he had told them they were not required to pledge allegiance to the American flag, but instead to the “spirit” of the United States, or to any flag they chose.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon lamented the lack of patriotism among some teachers and administrators in American schools.
"How can we really drive home patriotism and love of country and respect for our flag if we actually have teachers and principals who are not encouraging… pic.twitter.com/wgBCct8lZP — Fox News (@FoxNews) April 17, 2026
"I'll tell you the saddest thing that happened to me relative to any of these tours was at one school that I went to and the principal told me, he said, wow, he said, I'm really glad you had the words, you know, to the Pledge of Allegiance, you know, up on the boards because I don't think the kids in our school know what they are. And they can opt out of saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and so the school just opted out, and they didn't have to say it anymore," McMahon said. "I thought, what a comment that is. And this same principal, when he got up to announce for everyone to stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance, he said, now, understand, you're not pledging allegiance to any particular flag, but it's to a spirit, so you can pledge this allegiance to whatever flag you think is appropriate for you."
"And I'm going, wow, how can we really drive home patriotism and love of country and respect for our flag if we actually have teachers and principals who are not encouraging the very basics of what is patriotic in our country," she said.
This comes as McMahon has been tasked with overseeing the effort to end the Department of Education, amid concerns that student test scores and overall readiness for the real world have steadily declined, even as federal spending on education has increased since the department’s creation.
One of the issues frequently cited is the federal government’s expanding role in education policy, despite the system originally being intended to remain far more localized. Many critics also point to public education as a factor in what they see as a decline in civic knowledge and patriotism, arguing that curricula often place greater emphasis on the United States’ historical shortcomings than on its accomplishments, allowing the nation’s past mistakes to define its broader legacy.
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ARTH ping.
I have family members involved in public education.
I’m not surprised by this. Not at all.
Been like that for decades.
“Linda McMahon Blasts the Lack of Patriotism Among Teachers and Administrators”
She can ‘blast’ all she wants, it won’t change the fact that TEACHERS HATE AMERICA, or that most Conservatives, including many here, will continue to subject their kids to these beasts.
McMahon needs to cure the problem with the teacher’s colleges - the indoc centers. Same solution for the J-schools, med schools and the law schools. If you don’t stop the bleeding eventually the patient dies. Stop having more of these indoctrinated NPCs generated.
Most teachers have been aligned with communism for probably 50 years.
I remember the 200th anniversary of the US and all the celebrations that went with it. It was mentioned all the time on TV in ads and news.
Here we are at the 250th and nothing...
I attended grammar school in the 50's. Teachers decorated the classroom for Washington and Lincoln's birthday, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4th, Columbus Day, Halloween, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
We have a charter school a couple of blocks over who have the Pledge of Allegiance broadcast over loudspeakers every school day at 8:00 AM (I imagine that the kids are gathered in order outside on the playground at this time). You can hear it loud and clear from our backyard and if we are outside working in the yard then, we stop and say the Pledge with them.
Me too. Started changing mid 60’s.
Sadly, you are right.
I’ve seen too many street interviews with high school graduates and their total lack of knowledge about history, geography, or basic math skills. Our world ranking in education is a national shame and a good measure of the blame belong on the Dept of Education. The rest of the blame falls on the National Education Association, or teachers’ union. Both are a disgrace.
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I remember it too. Pueblo, Colorado. Flags EVERYWHERE!! American Flags coupled with all those Bi-centennial flags. Fireworks! Radio stations saying, “Happy Birthday America!” Our schools were decked out. Everyone was wearing Red, White and Blue. Hendrix’s rendition of The Anthem blasting on KILO-94, The Rock of the Rockies! Good times. Couple years later we did it all in Orange for the Denver/Dallas Superbowl in ‘78. My parents ran all over town looking for Orange Crush t-shirts!!!
I got my early intro to patriotism from my grade school teachers, and I’m thankful for it.
Cloe the public schools
Same here. I remember drawing Columbus' ship and cutting it out for the teacher to tape it to the wall next to the blackboard circa 1958.
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