Essay on Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools PDF

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Essay writting on the backgroud of the Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools and why we can not impose it on all students....

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Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools

Amy M. Sellers College of Education, Grand Canyon University EDU 330: Social Justice for Educators Kate Flavell April 4, 2021

2 Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools The number of students choosing not to stand or recite the Pledge of Allegiance has been on the rise. Students are becoming more educated, influenced by those around them, and being vocal about their beliefs. Gone are the days when all students stood and recited the pledge no matter what their beliefs. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance has been coined controversial as some Americans claim it violates their individual, cultural, and religious rights and contradicted the current plight of marginalized groups. There are arguments on both sides of the issue, those for reciting the pledge and those against it. Controversial issue and cultural identifiers The Pledge of Allegiance is a tradition that has been led in public schools since 1892. The pledge was introduced by way of a children’s magazine and later implemented into school’s morning routines (Russo, 2004). Since its implementation, the pledge has been recited in schools with children of all ages, races, and religious backgrounds. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance has become controversial as many see that it is violating rights of the American citizens. The controversy of all students being led in the Pledge of Allegiance can be seen as a cultural issue because one’s difference in religious beliefs. It can also be said that even though a person has come to America to better themselves and their family, they still pledge alliance with their ethnicity and cultural background in their country of origin. Another cultural issue with the pledge can be identified as a person’s race. An African American history teacher phrased it this way, how can I lead my students in a pledge that ends with “and justice for all”, when there are many African American men and women that have lost their lives to police brutality and white supremacy.

3 As a daughter and granddaughter of service members that have fought in the armed forces to give deliver American citizens their freedoms, it has always felt very patriotic to salute the flag and recite the pledge for what it was initially intended for and to commemorate those who fought so bravely to protect it. Without the sacrifice of those men and women, Americans are not guaranteed to have the freedoms that are enjoyed today. The flag itself is just a representation of the country with the stars representing the states and the stripes the original colonies. As a Christian, the belief is that everyone is equal, no man or woman should be treated better than the next. When reciting the pledge as a Christian, those words that are being said are said with the whole belief of unity. Historical Background In 1892 the pledge was introduced into the public-school routine as students started saying it at the beginning of each school-day. Originally written by Francis Bellamy, he had hopes for it to be used by citizens in any country. The first time it was recited in America was in celebration of the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed an amendment that added the phrase “under God” to the pledge. There have been numerous attempts to remove certain phrases from the pledge and to also remove the pledge from schools (Russo, 2004). The salute of the flag itself has changed over time as well. During the WWII era, modifications to keep the right hand over the heart throughout the entire pledge were made. (Independence Hall Association, n.d.). Summary of the controversial issue in K-12 education context The Pledge of Allegiance was struck down because it included the words “under God” and it was considered as a religious act, which violated “the First Amendment’s prohibition of governmental establishment of religion. The court subsequently modified its initial judgement

4 and struck the Pledge down on the basis that it coerced a religious act.” (Russo, 2004, pg. 302). Students also started refusing to stay silent or leave the classroom and started insisting on sitting during the pledge due their belief that the phrase “with liberty and justice for all” “contradicted the current plight of marginalized groups.” (Fountain, 2019). Students from different ethnic groups, sexuality groups, and racial groups claim that we are not truly equal and do not feel justified to recite words that do not stand for who they are. Summarize the current opinions for and against the controversial issue There are many differing beliefs regarding the pledge in schools. The Pledge has been said for many years and has been done so to instill a sense of patriotism among students for their country. Along with the sense of patriotism, the pledge can allow students to recognize and begin to respect national symbols and can lead toward a positive attitude about the country. The pledge itself has a lot of history and is deemed important to our country (Why do we, n.d.). It became the perfect oath for American children to recite before beginning classes in the mornings. People who are against children saying the pledge in school may see the pledge as a ritual and believe the students say it without thought. Others believe that saying it violates their individual, religious, or constitutional rights. Some say that reciting the pledge is pointless because our country does not follow the phrase, “liberty and justice for all”. There are groups of people that are treated differently depending on their sexual preference, color of their skin, or their heritage. On June 14, 1943 the United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of the West Virginia State Board of Education vs. Barnette that educators could no longer require their students to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Requiring students to stand would be a violation of their first amendment right to freedom of speech. How teachers and students are affected

5 Having the option to say or not say the Pledge of Allegiance is a more accurate resemblance of the First Amendment for Americans, requiring all students to recite it for routine purposes. Students should be better educated on the pledge, what they are saying, and why they are saying it. Teachers should also be more understanding and accepting of the students that do not, for whatever reason, want to stand and recite the pledge with the rest of the class. These students, however, must respect the other student’s beliefs and feelings as to why they are reciting the pledge, just like those students are respecting their beliefs as to why they are not reciting the pledge. Related policies or methods With the various religious beliefs that are in the United States, both students and teachers can be affected differently by the Pledge of Allegiance. Atheists and non-Christians who do not believe in God are having to recite this pledge every day, violating their rights along with those students who are a part of racial minorities who are being oppressed reciting “with liberty and justice for all” while they believe it is not true (Wellenreiter, 2020). Then, there are patriots that believe not saluting and saying the pledge are signs of disrespect to our country and to those who fought so bravely to protect and defends the rights and freedoms of America’s citizens. There have been many court cases regarding the saying, or not saying of the pledge that have resulted in different ways students or teachers are able to not say the pledge. The first case was in 1940 when the Pledge became mandated by law and the Jehovah’s Witnesses refused to salute the pledge. Through many cases it has been concluded that students and teachers alike are allowed to stay quiet, remain sitting, or even leave the classroom during the pledge. No matter which choice a student or teacher makes to respectfully not say the pledge, they are not subject to punishment by the authority over them (Fountain, 2019).

6 The foundation of the Pledge of Allegiance was intended for all the controversy it has ensued through this day. To remove the pledge from the education system all together after over a century could be viewed as an un-traditionalistic move. Give the students the freedom of speech and allow them to choose for themselves, after being thoroughly informed, whether they would like to continue to recite the pledge or respectfully sit in silence as their classmates continue to.

7 Resources Fountain, A. G. (2019). The right to sit: Symbolic expression and the Pledge of Allegiance in New York public schools, 1969–1973. New York History, 96(1), 84–100. https://doiorg.mcneese.idm.oclc.org/10.1353/nyh.2015.0014 Independence Hall Association. (n.d.). The Pledge of Allegiance. ushistory.org. https://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm. Russo, C. J. (2004). The Supreme Court and Pledge of Allegiance: Does God still have a place in American schools? Bringham Young University Education & Law Journal, 2004(2), 301-330 Wellenreiter, B. R. (2020). When students refuse to recite the Pledge of Allegiance: Preservice teachers’ responses. Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 93(1), 19–26. Why do we say the Pledge of Allegiance in school? (n.d.). https://www.teachnology.com/tutorials/teaching/thepledge.html....