[steve-b]

The pledge is not mandatory; by logic, what else could it be? Though the onus clearly is on the parent teacher to explain this.

Just a correction, to name the person in charge of the moment-to-moment management of the classroom.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Two words: parental responsibility. The teachers are not there to tell a child he can be the personal king or queen of his or her own little world; however they do have to respect the parents' wishes. They cannot elaborate on what "under God" ought to mean.

[HiTech RedNeck]

They cannot elaborate on ... [more precisely, dictate] what "under God" ought to mean.

Lemme repeat... parents can't cop out on their responsibility of authority! It's turning the job of nanny over to the teachers that has brought on much of the moral rot and destructiveness of today's children. Yes it would be a good idea for teachers to explain at the start of the school year that the pledge is not required if the parents or guardians do not wish it, but to make this the main point is to miss the main point.