[MineralMan]

"In February, an 11-year-old girl refused to say the pledge with the phrase in class.

A substitute teacher told the girl she'd no right to live in America. "

Wrong action on the teacher's part. Nobody is required to say the Pledge of Allegiance in the USA. That was decided back in 1948, based on a suit filed by the Jehovah's Witnesses, who object to taking all oaths, and who can point to Jesus' own words on the matter.

The "under God" phrase of the Pledge was added in 1954. I learned it the old way in 1950 while in Kindergarten and, as an atheist, have never included that phrase in my thousands of repetitions of the Pledge.

If this teacher said this in class, in public, then he/she should be dismissed. She is saying something that is simply not true.

Anyone may say the Pledge, with or without the "under God" phrase, and nobody may be required to say the Pledge at all if they object to oaths.

This sort of knee-jerk patriotism is just wrong. I defy anyone to tell me to my face that I am not a patriot, and I have never once said the Pledge using the "under God" phrase. Why? Because that would be a false oath for me. I do not swear any oaths which contain references to any deity, because I believe in no deities. As I have always done, I _affirm_ my oaths. I did that when I enlisted in the USAF in 1965, and I've done it everytime I've ever appeared as a witness or juror in court.

Nobody may insist that any US Citizen swear any oath on any deity's name. The Constitution guarantees that. This teacher was simply wrong.

[Trailerpark Badass]

I don't believe I've ever said "the Pledge." It certainly wasn't part of the school day at any school I attended. Pledging allegiance to a government is quite a socialist thing to do. The government exists to protect my rights, and those of other citizens, not to compel my "allegiance."

[Tired of Taxes]

Wow, glad to see your post. I've been trying to avoid these topics because discussing them on FR is a pointless exercise.

Anyway, my first thought in reading the article was that the teacher was wrong.

Then I thought the substitute teacher obviously thinks Texas has every right to force this girl's family to pay taxes funding the teacher's salary and the public school where she teaches, in the very country where the teacher doesn't think the girl has a right to live. ;-)

But, finally, I wondered if anyone else witnessed this exchange between teacher and student, why the family didn't sue to simply have the teacher fired, why Pres. Bush is named in the suit, and what the money motto has to do with the original story?

It's all so confusing...

[malakhi]

A substitute teacher told the girl she'd no right to live in America...

If this teacher said this in class, in public, then he/she should be dismissed. She is saying something that is simply not true.

What if the student is an illegal alien?

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I>I have no idea. Personally, I would have gone to the Principal of the school, then the School Board, and pointed out the law in this matter. I would give them a chance to clarify their policies and would have insisted that all teachers, regular and substitute, be instructed in that law. If rebuffed by those, then I might consider a lawsuit, as a parent, but only to force the school to recognize that nobody may be forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance. That's already been decided, way back in 1948.

Just for your information, Texas has a new law that requires the US and Texas pledge be said every day in school and that a moment of silence be included. The same law makes it very clear that one need not, and should never be forced, to be involved.

The teacher was wrong, the kid probably coached to push the issue, and the parents, asses.

[itsahoot]

Nobody may insist that any US Citizen swear any oath on any deity's name. The Constitution guarantees that.

Not so, courts have only recently discovered this un-right.

This teacher was simply wrong.

You are correct on this one.

[f.Christian]

fC ...

The rag head taliban in America is the aclu ...

just like the ones in mecca - afghanistan ---

blowing up thousand year old Buhdda statues !

PC burqas too ... calling FR --- a hate group ! BACKGROUND

"The ACLU has often been criticized for "ignoring the Second Amendment" and refusing to fight for the individual's right to own a gun or other weapons. This issue, however, has not been ignored by the ACLU. The national board has in fact debated and discussed the civil liberties aspects of the Second Amendment many times."

"We believe that the constitutional right to bear arms is primarily a collective one, intended mainly to protect the right of the states to maintain militias to assure their own freedom and security against the central government. In today's world, that idea is somewhat anachronistic and in any case would require weapons much more powerful than handguns or hunting rifles. The ACLU therefore believes that the Second Amendment does not confer an unlimited right upon individuals to own guns or other weapons nor does it prohibit reasonable regulation of gun ownership, such as licensing and registration."

... link below !

eas ...

"No. The ACLU says the First Amendment protects their right to free speech (( atheism )) , which the Second does not protect your right to keep and bear arms."

"I was going to say they don't understand the concept that the militia is made up of the very people referenced in the text of the amendment. But they do get this, and very well. They simply know that when the people are completely disarmed, there is no impediment to the ... ACLU becoming --- a latter-day Politburo."

"I'm telling you ... gather weapons and ammo now (( knowledge - associates - VOTES )) --- while you still can."

50 posted on 03/28/2002 4:02 PM PST by Euro-American Scum

fC ...

Haven't the atheists founded a country to your liking so you can move there ?

[Kevin Curry]

If this teacher said this in class, in public, then he/she should be dismissed. She is saying something that is simply not true.

I'm sure they've all lied. Fire them all.

You've probably lied, too. Let's fire you from your job.

That was easy.

[anymouse]

Well this ain't Kalifornia. Studends will say both pledges
to the American flag and the Texas flag, unless they have a
note from home explaining why they must be excused from
doing so.

[maxwellp]

If I were the substitute teacher, I would have told the 11-year old that she should simply remain silent if that's the way she felt. We seem to have very little simple courtesy these days. If you have a problem with "under God", remain silent and don't say it. Have courtesy and good manners for those who want to say it. The reverse is also true.

[Clara Lou]

If this teacher said this in class, in public, then he/she should be dismissed.
I'm sure this substitute will be taken off the substitute list-- although I'm sure she'd never make the mistake again-- so why fire her? (Substitutes are so very hard to find.) BTW-- this is not a "teacher." This person is a substitute-- probably a housewife with an empty nest-- might be a Freeper.

[Gargantua]

"If this teacher said this in class, in public, then he/she should be dismissed. She is saying something that is simply not true."

And what of the teachers who spread the lie of Evolution to American students? Should they all be dismissed as well for their implicit spreading of lies to American students?

Just because you are Godless does not alter the fact that America is a Christian Nation under God.

;-/