We’re one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all – a familiar phrase that some state legislators believe should be a required way for students to start each day.
The House Education Committee on Wednesday passed a bill to mandate Pledge of Allegiance ceremonies daily in public elementary and secondary schools. Students still could choose not to recite it.
A companion proposal, also sent to the full House, would require an American flag in each classroom.
"It's about the foundation of our country," Committee Chair Lisa Posthumus Lyons, a Republican, is quoted by Mlive Media Group as saying after this week’s vote. "It gets students thinking about the United States and what we stand for."
Democrats joined Republicans in voting 16-1 in favor of the Pledge bill and 15-2 to require flags.
Rep. Doug Geiss, D-Taylor, dissented on both votes. "I just don't know that it's a problem," he said, according to MLive. "Schools are reciting the pledge. And if you find one that’s not, take it up with the school board because it should be a board decision."
Michigan senators passed similar bills last November in a move to join 43 states requiring that pupils at least hear the Pledge each school day.
The issue, which has arisen around the country, was . David Holden, elected to the board last November, proposed a requirement that all students begin the day with the 19-word Pledge – not currently recited in the Washtenaw County district’s middle school or high school. "It works very well with some of the things we are trying to do to discourage bullying," he said Jan. 10. It was the original diversity document before people started talking about diversity."
The well-known Pledge was written in 1892 by Frank Bellamy, a Baptist minister from New York. Congress added the words "under God" in 1954.
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"and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands" and learn that we don't live in a democracy !
The partial phrasing was chosen for reasons of style and brevity, with no disrespect intended. Thanks for reading and commenting, Tony and David.
When the Pledge of Allegiance was changed on 1954 to include the words "under God", they respected all monotheistic establishments of religion (with Christianity in general, in mind.) While students are not required to recite it, they are placed in a setting where they are compelled to. The addition also respects monotheistic religions by implying that the U.S. itself is officially monotheistic, when in fact, there is no official religion of the country. While most of the Founding Fathers were Christian, they were wise enough to avoid favoring one religion or set of religions over another. As a Christian (as many people here are), imagine if the pledge said "One nation under Allah", or "One nation under Buddha". You now have a better idea of what it's like for those who are Buddhists, atheists/non-religious, polytheists (i.e. Hindu), etc. to be pressured to recite "One nation under God". But religious aspect aside, there is also little sense into having... kindergartners recite the Pledge. At that age, almost everyone in the class can't even pronounce the words to the Pledge, much less comprehend the slightest bit of what it means.
"Under God" says a lot about us.
If there is no time for the Pledge in a school, then we might ask administrators why this is so. Then we'll get to watch them squirm as they grovel for one silly excuse or another. But they are "broadminded" folks, of course.
From Justice Robert Jackson's majority opinion: "If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein." In their concurring opinion, Justices Hugo Black and William O. Douglas wrote: "Words uttered under coercion are proof of loyalty to nothing but self-interest, Love of country must spring from willing hearts and free minds, inspired by a fair administration of wise laws enacted by the people's elected representatives within the bounds of express constitutional prohibitions." Finally, back to Justice Jackson: "To believe that patriotism will not flourish if patriotic ceremonies are voluntary and spontaneous instead of a compulsory routine is to make an unflattering estimate of the appeal of our institutions to free minds." The key here is that Barnette was decided on the basis of the Free Speech clause, NOT the Establishment Clause. The phrase "under God" is not relevant to understand how wrong-headed GOP legislators are in this effort. And it's THEIR effort: House Democrats voted 'yes' because A) They couldn't prevent it; and 2) To avoid creating an "issue" for voters.
Is there something about charter schools and private schools that confers a higher level of patriotism, such that ordering them to plant American flags in every classroom and compelling their students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day is unnecessary?
needed jobs.
First, the pending legislation wouldn't compel each pupil to say the Pledge or salute the flag. It would require a daily Pledge ceremony, during which any student could decline to recite, to stand or to remain in the room. As for your other concern: The pending legislation covers charter schools, which are public institutions receiving state "foundation" (per-pupil) grants from the Michigan Department of Education. Parochial and private schools don't receive taxpayer support and are exempt from government control over curriculum and classroom activities. In the case of parochial eduction, the constitutional principle of church-state separation applies. Thanks for reading and commenting.