Stephen Maturin

Gary,

I went to school in Hubbard, a small town about seven miles from the organized crime capital of the universe, i.e., Youngstown. As I remember it, our public schools gave up the Lord's prayer and Bible reading reluctantly and belatedly in the mid-60s. Pledge recitation remained right through my high school years, which ended in 1976. I stopped reciting the Pledge long about 8th grade or so and don't recall getting into any trouble over it.

Roland98

Wow, is this the Ohio thread? I went to public school in Ohio and graduated in '94. Though we never had mandatory prayer exactly, in elementary (1st through 6th grade), we had a weekly Bible study class, where we learned Bible verses, songs, etc. I think there was a loophole where you were allowed to opt out if you wanted, but being in a cesspool of fundie-ism, I think to do so may have meant being taken outside and stoned for being an infidel. Anyway, it never bothered me until later--for a kid, an hour a week to get out of "real" class and sing was definitely a bonus. I know some schools in the area recently were sued (or threatened with a suit, anyway), and have since stopped these classes. Not sure if that's taken place in my old school or not.

Edited: School was located in the Findlay area (about an hour s. of Toledo). And we said the Pledge until 8th grade, IIRC.

athee

well I went to school in central FLA 86-88. We had the pledge then a moment of silence. I said the abbreviated pledge then immediately sat down. The teacher would ask why I sit down so fast ... I told her I was done and didn't feel like standing around looking like an idiot. The kids around me heard me skip the "juicy" bits, but never complained.