Addressing the Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools

In order to fully understand the impacts of Addressing the Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools: recitation today in mainstream America, it is “Once patriotism becomes rote and essential to understand how the pledge has unthinking, it’s not really patriotism — become such an ingrained part of society. The it’s robotic” - Kent Greenfield pledge was popularized during World War II to ensure American values and establish a strong By : Allison Brown community around the flag. Seen below is an alarming photo of students in an Italian American War II. As the United States has moved into the borough of New York City during World During this time, 21st century, many disagreements regarding the future of the nation and our traditions are being patriotism was in put into question. Ideas that were once known as high demand and fact are being questioned and we understand that requiring students change is natural. An example of a tradition that to recite the pledge has been examined recently is the Pledge of was a tool the Allegiance. government Growing up in small town America, every (CNN Library 2019) believed would develop ideal morning started the same, we would stand and citizens in a time of international turmoil. No legal norms were placed on disrupt our daily routine to recite the pledge of allegiance mechanically, then proceed to sit backthe pledge until 1943 when the Supreme Court made a landmark decision in West Virginia State down and continue our conversations. Published in 1892, the Pledge of Board of Education v. Barnette (National Allegiance has seeped it’s way into the daily livesConstitution Center) ruling that enforcing an individual to say the pledge is a violation of the of America’s youth. Today in public school students are given the “opportunity” to recite it 1st and 14th amendments, essentially a student’s daily, although it is usually forced. Recitation of right to free speech and their protection of that the Pledge of Allegiance needs to be removed right. from public schools to ensure that the st 1 Amendment is upheld and to allow America’s This decision allowed the pledge to continue to be recited in schools and in theory youth to formulate their own opinions about their permitted students the option to remain seated or to recite the pledge on their own accord. In 1954, own government and flag. President Esienhower asked congress to include the statement “under god” due to religious or giving the schools within the state the power to pressure and the “Red Scare” (Broadway 2002). choose. Both the house and senate passed this addition However, what this legislation does not unanimously. Esienhower’s addition and account for is the peer pressure that students congress’s approval to add “Under God” to the experience from one other and the pressure of pledge was a compromise of the separation of staff on students. church and state (Flax 2012) and drastically Students, especially at a young age, are not changed the meaning of the pledge. Explained often aware that they are able to choose if they below are the various changes that have been want to recite the pledge, I certainly wasn’t. made to change the original meaning of the pledge published in the late 1800s: Who can expect ard3grader to take a stand against their classmates and teacher for something they don’t even understand? Although federally the Supreme Court can uphold the st 1 Amendment and require states to give students only the “opportunity” this social pressure cannot be accounted for and students follow their classmates in mechanically reciting the pledge. (CNN Library 2019) Since Eisenhower’s addition, the Pledge of Allegiance has remained the same, but highly examined in the public eye. As America reached from the 1950s and into the early 2000s the pledge was put into question. In the 21st century, recitation of the pledge Blue indicates that public schools are required, red is that the schools have the option and yellow means that there is no legislation for that state. (ProCon.org 2013) This creates a substantial physiological in public schools has been at unprecedented risk. problem and complex with “patriotism”, in the “Under God” is more contentious than ever with words of Kent Greenfield, a journalist and law increasing religious diversity and atheism. professor who has conducted research about facist Ongoing lawsuits against schools districts and cultures and nationalism draws a conclusion, school has lead to further legislation at the state “They’re only doing it out of forced habit. What level, either requiring schools to recite the pledge on earth does that teach them? To stand up and follow the leader without question, like sheep? Author’s Bio: Once patriotism becomes rote and unthinking, it’sAllison is currently a student at the University of not really patriotism — it’s robotic” (Moran Wyoming double majoring in International 2019). Studies and Political Science with a minor in The U.S. needs to pass federal legislation Economics. Growing up in a town of less than that removes recitation of the pledge from public seven thousand people, she has experience with schools. This “opportunity” that students have small town ideals and had the chance to say the daily to recite the pledge is an infraction of the st 1 pledge of allegiance every morning over her Amendment and teaches unhealthy habits about twelve year public school career. their rights and patriotism in general. We need to teach youth about the U.S. and its ideals in a more realistic approach, through civics classes and other experiences, not through mechanical repetition and peer pressure to conform. Works Cited: Broadway, Bill. “How 'Under God' Got in There.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 6 July 2002, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/07/06/how-under-god-got-in-there/2a0fca8 -524e-4063-8a58-4c31db084932/ Flax, Bill. “The True Meaning of Separation of Church and State.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 14 Mar. 2012, https://www.forbes.com/sites/billflax/2011/07/09/the-true-meaning-of-separation-of-church-and-state/ “The History of Legal Challenges to the Pledge of Allegiance.” National Constitution Center – Constitutioncenter.org, https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-latest-controversy-about-under-god In-the-pledge-of-allegiance “The Pledge of Allegiance Cases.” Becket, 2019 www.becketlaw.org/case/pledge-allegiance-cases/ “State Requirements on Pledge of Allegiance in Schools - Under God in the Pledge - ProCon.org.” Should the Words "under God" Be in the US Pledge of Allegiance?, 2013, https://undergod.procon.org/view.additional-resource.php?resourceID=000074 Moran, Tracy. “Take the Pledge of Allegiance Out of School.” OZY, 5 Feb. 2019, www.ozy.com/immodest-proposal/take-the-pledge-of-allegiance-out-of-school/80442/ “Pledge of Allegiance Fast Facts.” CNN Library, Cable News Network, 22 Apr. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/04/us/pledge-of-allegiance-fast-facts/index.html