chiron64

It seems like 9/11/01 all over again. Today at work, our principal decided to have an improptu gathering in honor of 9/11 out in the campus court yard. The entire school recited the pledge, the principal led everyone in a horrible rendition of God Bless America that made students giggle and had me hide my face in shame, Lee Greenwood's smarmy song was played while everyone was asked to hold hands, and at the end of the day a student read a message over the school intercom in which she informed us that Jebus was looking out for us.

At lunch my colleagues expressed the tired old opinion that people ought to be required to say the pledge (these are public school teachers, remember) and complain about the few students who refuse. One was incensed because a student refused to stand and wouldn't tell her why she refused to say the pledge. I held my tongue the whole time, but I had to say at this point that she isn't required to give any reasons. Then another colleague, a history teacher no less, told of how he "shames" them into saying the pledge: he tells students that they must stand outside if they refuse to say the pledge. Of course, 9th grade kids don't like to be singled out, so they say it against their will. I wanted to ask him if he would carry out his threat if a student continued to refuse.

The whole time I wanted to speak up, but none of these people know that I'm an atheist or that I don't recite the pledge nor do I require my students to do so. I have to work with these people and they're also friends. And I was in no mood for an argument.

Will we have to endure this every 9/11 from now on? <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

Alonzo Fyfe

We will have to endure it up to the point that somebody is willing to tell these people that what they are doing is wrong.

Because if nobody tells them this, then why should they stop doing it?

P.S., I would like you to continue to post these types of reports here as they come up -- I am interested in reading about just how "voluntary" the pledge of allegiance is in other schools.

[ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: Alonzo Fyfe ]</p>

Alonzo Fyfe

I am sorry for the snappy reply last time, but the story reminded me of the abuse that I was subjected to at school because I said I did not believe in God, while teachers who knew of the abuse stood by and did nothing.

Because are these teachers teaching their students that the abuse of those who do not say the pledge are appropriate? And on whom are those students practicing these lessons (and on whom will they practice these lessons in the future)?

I can understand how you can be intimidated as much as the students.

So, I would like you to consider at least taking these steps.

(1) Sending an anonymous letter to the news organization (newspaper, television station) about how the teachers regard students who do not say the pledge.

(2) Sending an anonymous letter to your fellow teachers that presents your side of the issue in a generic sense (of course, mentioning none of the specific activities you mention here, but raising more general objections) in the hopes of inspiring some sort of discussion in the lunch room.

Of course, you will send a copy of this letter to yourself as well, so that you receive one at the same time everybody else does and can participate in the discussion without being singled out.

ebolamonger

At my school, the administration and teachers have been pretty lax on the pledge thing---with the notable exception of the librarian. I was in the library with a pass to study there during one of my classes and came in and sat while the announcements were going on and the pledge was said. A librarian appeared at my shoulder about 30 seconds later and said "Didn't you hear the pledge? We stand for the pledge" and I told her it was not mandatory and that I had decided not to participate. So then she asked me what I was there for and then informed me that there were two classes coming in and so I should leave. I thought, what the fuck, for one, I have been here on my own before when there were other classes using the library, and two, there were other individual people on research passes in the library that day that she left alone. (To be sure about this sort of thing, I later asked the teacher that had sent me if students could be kicked out of the library if there were other classes in there and she said "Definitely not.")

I left anyway because it was going to get loud and I needed to do some brainstorming for an essay, but today, I was back in there again on an individual pass and walked in while other classes were hanging out in different parts of the library. I gave the librarian a grin, and dumped my stuff at the most central table in the place. I wasn't hassled again.

-nikki-

chiron64

No need to apologize. Frankly, you made me think about whether or not I should say something. I've tried to rationalize my non-action by telling myself that I'm doing my part in my own little corner of the campus when I give my own students the freedom that is denied in other classrooms, but maybe that's just a cop out.

I like your suggestions and I will consider sending a letter to the local newspaper. Unfortunately, they won't publish anonymous letters and they have an annoying habit of publishing some letters and not others (don't know if this is intentional or not). I just created a private discussion forum at delphi for district teachers, so I might also bring the topic up there for discussion.

Alonzo Fyfe

Sorry. I did not mean a letter that they would publish, but a letter that might cause them to send a reporter to start asking questions.

This is newsworthy. One of the arguments offered in favor of defending the pledge is that it is voluntary, and that it does not bring about a change in status between those who say it and those who do not.

You have reported a relevant piece of information suggesting that one of these arguments offered in defense of the pledge is wrong, and that teachers are abusing their power and pressuring students into performing a religious exercise in a public school.

If you can get somebody at the newspaper to see it this way, they may decide to send somebody over to find out.

And I have a suggestion for something else you may use to get the message across.

Below is a piece I wrote to a high school student about activisim with respect to the pledge. Perhaps you could copy this into a document, print it, carry it into the Teacher's lounge, and say, "Some student left this on my desk. What do you think?" Or, perhaps, give a copy to a couple of trusted students (or leave it where some trusted students may find it).

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&g t;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt ;
Dear Student:

You have been asked why you remain seated during the Pledge of Allegiance, and you have explained your reasons. Have you considered asking them to explain why they stand?

Because when they pledge allegiance to "one nation, under God", they are pledging allegiance to one nation, without atheists -- one nation, without you in it.

For example, when a student pledges allegiance to "one nation . . . with liberty and justice for all," they are pledging allegiance to one nation without tyranny, without injustice. They are saying that these evils shall not be tolerated in this country; that these evils will be opposed wherever found until they cease to exist.

And when they pledge allegiance to "one nation, indivisible" they pledge allegiance to one nation without division. They pledge that they will not support dividing the nation, one region from another, or one group from another. They pledge that where they find division, they will side against it, and side in favor of unity.

There is no rational way to understand a pledge to "one nation, under God", except as following the same pattern. To pledge to one nation under God is to pledge to regard anybody not following a monotheistic religion the same way that one would regard a separatist/rebel, a tyrant and those who support that tyrant, and those who perpetrate injustice.

It brands all of those who do not believe in one God as enemies of the state. That is why those who do not believe in God are invited to sit silently, or stand aside, or leave the room when the Pledge is recited. This is the country telling them that it does not want their allegiance, that they are against that which the flag, and the republic for which it stands is for. This is the government saying, "you are not welcome here."

So, ask your classmates, then, "Is this what you believe in? Is this what you stand for when you stand each day and recite the pledge."

Ask them if they think that in a nation "with justice for all," the government should declare that only the allegiance of the monotheist is acceptable to it; that it finds the allegiance of no other person acceptable. Ask them if they believe that, in one nation indivisible, the government should be dividing its population between a welcome population of monothesits, and an unwelcome population of all others.

And if they answer that they do not believe in the things this Pledge says, ask them why they say it. Ask them why they stand each day to pledge to God that these things are true.

Now, if it is important to them that they stand and pledge allegiance to the flag, and it is important to them to affirm their belief in God at the same time, then ask this of them.

Ask them to change the pledge just slightly. Ask them not to say the words "under God" with its message that only the allegiance of monotheists is acceptable to this government. But invite them to say instead, "...so help me God" at the end. Such a statement affirms their own belief in God, without denigrating the beliefs of anybody else.

And it will do just a little bit more. Because when the standard pledge ends, during the short moment that follows, the sound of these words will tell all those who will hear them that the speaker truly believes in the principles contained within the Pledge of Allegiance. It tells those who will hear that the speaker will not stand for dividing the nation along religious lines, into monotheists whose allegiance is welcome and all others whose allegiance the Republic says it cannot accept.

And I truly cannot think of any form of activism more meaningful than to see monotheists and theists together in a public school make this type of statement to the government -- that they will not let the government divide them or put them against each other.

[ September 12, 2002: Message edited by: Alonzo Fyfe ]</p>

Splat

Chiron 64,

You can stand up to your colleagues on constitutional grounds without discussing your religious orientation. You can also point out that some students may refrain because they consider it blasphemous (read the sermon on the mount for ammo). Also, if there is any possible way to distribute a variation on Alonzo's letter to the students (stuffing them in lockers? a school newspaper?), it would be well worth doing so.

I would have an extremely hard time keeping my mouth shut in that situation. These people have no business being around children, much less being responsible for their educations.

Oresta

I'd like to think that if I were on either faculty of chiron64 or ebolamonger, I would put my values on the line by getting on the agenda of the next faculty meeting to raise the issue of teachers coercing/hassling students who refuse to stand and recite the PoA. This is an issue of professional ethics and sound classroom management. Humiliating/punishing students who have done nothing disruptive or insubordinate is clearly an abuse of authority.

4th Generation Atheist

Alonzo, that's an excellent letter. Perhaps any high school students reading this could consider printing it out & sending it to their school papers? Or draft one of their own making similar points.

I'm starting to wonder whether we should drop the Pledge out of schools entirely. Yes, a patriotic exercise is nice, especially if it leads to a discussion of what's great about this country. But the really patriotic thing to do in school is to gain and impart an education.

[ September 12, 2002: Message edited by: 4th Generation Atheist ]</p>

Alonzo Fyfe

Or just passing it around to a few classmates,, or posting it to a school bulletin board....