round up the "usual suspects"...
Posted on 10/09/2001 7:02:25 AM PDT by Jean S
Can't use Pledge of Allegiance to comply with law, schools told
The Madison School Board barred schools on Monday from using the Pledge of Allegiance as a way to comply with a new state law that requires a daily patriotism dose.
Instead, schools can use only the national anthem - and then only instrumental versions of it. No words.
The 3-2 board vote came after several parents and teachers complained that the pledge, which contains the line "one nation, under God," is a religious oath that doesn't belong in public schools. Others criticized the pledge for promoting nationalism and militarism.
Board President Calvin Williams, who voted with the majority, said the board's action is the "least intrusive and least offensive" way to comply with the law.
"We've chosen a reasonable compromise that preserves freedom of expression on both ends of the spectrum and doesn't trample on anyone's rights," he said.
The law, which took effect Sept. 1, requires schools to offer the pledge or anthem daily in grades 1 to 12. Madison implemented the law last week, with Superintendent Art Rainwater leaving it up to each school to decide whether the pledge or anthem would be offered and in what format.
The heaviest criticism has been aimed at those elementary schools where the pledge is being read over the public address system. Although the law says students cannot be forced to participate, critics said children have little choice but to listen to it when it's broadcast throughout the school.
"What we're doing here is opening up a very slippery slope," said Sally Franz, an educational assistant at Cherokee Middle School and one of six people who criticized the law Monday. "Indoctrination leads to totalitarianism, and we're approaching that moment."
Board member Bill Keys' motion instructs schools to broadcast an instrumental version of the anthem at a time deemed appropriate by administrators. This option will allow dissenting students to opt out less conspicuously, reducing the chances for harassment, he said.
Williams and Carol Carstensen agreed with Keys. Carstensen said the motion in no way prohibits the teaching of the pledge for educational reasons or the singing of the anthem in music class. And students can say the pledge on their own during the school day, she said.
Ruth Robarts and Shwaw Vang opposed the motion, with both saying it doesn't go far enough to protect the rights of dissenters. "It's a step in the right direction, but it doesn't remove the coerciveness of the classroom situation," Robarts said. She wanted the anthem to be offered before or after classes.
Ray Allen and Juan Jose Lopez were absent. Reached later, Lopez said he opposes the motion.
"I would not have voted to ban the Pledge of Allegiance," he said. "We live in the United States of America, and people should be given the choice."
I'm a member of our local school board and if we were to introduce a motion like that we'd be run out of town!
begin your freeps
This is the e-mail for our Wisconsin Governor (R) Scott McCallum. I'm sure he is horrified by this. Send him a note he controlls the $$
wisgov@gov.state.wi.us
Madison Metropolitan School District
545 West Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53703
Fax Number: (608) 204-0341
Email to the Board as a group:
comments@madison.k12.wi.us
round up the "usual suspects"...
I would guess that they would be outraged at an attack on the Dali Lama or if the plane had hit the HQ of Mother Jones or MS magazines. Otherwise, it is an unfortunate results of the US worldwide Imperialism and as such should not affect the ongoing multicultural offensive to make sure that no person anywhere should ever be offended by anything [except any member of the male white ruling class and their lackeys like Justice Thomas].
TLBSHOW
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