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."
If the Pledge were truly "socialist" the d*mn friggin socialists would be the ones who want it recited in the schools! They do not.
Moreover, the ideals in the Pledge of liberty and justice for all are not socialist goals or ideals, but uniquely American ones! Socialists DO NOT WANT liberty or justice for all.
Now, please, please learn this, before we think that you might be like another cockpit rusher who needs to be tackled.
Convenient deragatory label to use when you don't agree with a reasoned argument, yet are unable or too lazy to counter it.
The pledge is socialist indoctrination. The pledge is a vain oath. The pledge obscures the founding ideals. These idelas are not complicated, they are simple, they are not long. These ideals have been well-expressed in the Preamble to the Constitution and in sections of the Declaration. Some expression of these ideals deserves daily repetition.
TLBSHOW, thanks for posting the addresses.
If you cannot say the Pledge, you should not get Federal funds.
I'm writing my Congressman.
Sincerely,
Dean
To a socialist "Liberty" is the liberty for him to tell you what to do. "For all" means he, the astute and elite, tells us all what to do.
Socialist Justice, means that the elite are exempt, except for the crime of hypocrisy, and no socialist can be a hypocrit.
Under your stupid lack of reasoning, the constitution, itself, could be nothing more than a false representation of liberty, just as you say the flag is.
Actually, it happened about 1870. It's been a struggle ever since. Especially in Mad City. Some things never change....
All of its principles are anathema to socialism!
The Republic for which the Flag stands is anathema to socialism. NO socialist state is a republic, and none can be.
Socialist states are not, and never have been, under God. Socialists are against God.
Liberty is anathema to socialism. Socialists seek to destroy liberty, not to honor it or pledge to it.
The same goes with justice. Socialism is contrary to justice.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.