Woodbury, VT Bans Pledge of Allegiance from Classrooms

[Excaliber]

Woodbury, VT school officials have reportedly banned the pledge of allegiance from classrooms because, according to news reports, children shouldn't be compelled to hear the words "one nation under God." Those who wish to say the pledge have to leave their classrooms and report to a second floor gymnasium to do so.

Details can be viewed at the video here.

[longtooth]

Well, then are they banning all profanity from the teachers lounge & making them go to the basement because no one should be compelled to hear ugly words.

[flintknapper]

Well, then are they banning all profanity from the teachers lounge & making them go to the basement because no one should be compelled to hear ugly words.

Heavens no! They would claim THAT would be covered by the 1st amendment (free speech), which would be correct.

What a sad state of affairs when the mere utterance of the word "God" is considered a bad or indoctrinating thing.

[anygunanywhere]

If they want to praise allah I bet they will allow it.

Anygunanyhwere

[KBCraig]

The pledge survived just fine for 60+ years without the words "under God", which wasn't officially added until 1954 (it was unofficially added by some private groups starting in 1951).

Of course, if you want to "properly" say the pledge, I suppose you should use the Bellamy Salute, named for the pledge author, who was a socialist. You might want to add a click of the heels for effect:

[tallmike]

Yep, too many people want to "keep the pledge as is has always been said" not realizing that the line they are fighting to keep was added so recently that the pledge was said for more years without it than it has been said with it.

[flintknapper]

The pledge survived just fine for 60+ years without the words "under God", which wasn't officially added until 1954 (it was unofficially added by some private groups starting in 1951).

Of course, if you want to "properly" say the pledge, I suppose you should use the Bellamy Salute, named for the pledge author, who was a socialist. You might want to add a click of the heels for effect:

So....for 50+ years it HAS had the words "Under God", why change it now?

The solution for those not wishing to utter those words is to simply not do so, (opt out).

[bdickens]

The solution is for people who pretend to be offended by the words "under God" to just suck it up and drive on.

On second thought, the real solution would be for the government to get itself out of the school business where it doesn't belong in the first place and then there wouldn't be any reason to be having this discussion.

[Dragonfighter]

[RPBrown]

Thats whats wrong with society now. God has been removed from classrooms, court houses, and government buildings as well as from family values.

[iratollah]

Thats whats wrong with society now. God has been removed from classrooms, court houses, and government buildings as well as from family values.

Yet at the same time polls indicate that more Americans claim to have faith and the U.S. murder rate has been in steady decline since 1993. Part of what's wrong with society is that there are folks who actually believe that not being able to impose their version of G-d upon others, especially in public schools, courts and government buildings is causing decay of society. This is really indicative of a more general abdication of responsibility to the community by those making such claims.

A child using the phrase 'under G-d' in the pledge has zero correlation to whether or not that kid becomes a doper or a bank robber or even a Republican.

[Pinkycatcher]

Thats whats wrong with society now. God has been removed from classrooms, court houses, and government buildings as well as from family values.

Yet at the same time polls indicate that more Americans claim to have faith and the U.S. murder rate has been in steady decline since 1993. Part of what's wrong with society is that there are folks who actually believe that not being able to impose their version of G-d upon others, especially in public schools, courts and government buildings is causing decay of society. This is really indicative of a more general abdication of responsibility to the community by those making such claims.

A child using the phrase 'under G-d' in the pledge has zero correlation to whether or not that kid becomes a doper or a bank robber or even a Republican.

What's forcing people to believe in their god about the pledge? Really, under God is generic, whether it be the allmighty, the creator, buddha, some generic being, or the forces of nature. God as a word is so generic it's nearly impossible to force feed somoene's beliefs through that term alone. Also it's been pretty much held in courts people are not forced to participate in the pledge, so again another knock off of forcing someone to believe in their own god.

[KBCraig]

The solution is for people who pretend to be offended by the words "under God" to just suck it up and drive on.

I'm not offended by the phrase at all, but I am offended by it (and the pledge itself) being held out as a test of loyalty.

On second thought, the real solution would be for the government to get itself out of the school business where it doesn't belong in the first place and then there wouldn't be any reason to be having this discussion.

I've been advocating that for years.

http://www.sepschool.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TedTedesco]

The issue here is not about forcing anyone to say the Pledge. That has been unconstitutional since 1943. The issue is making those students who want to say the Pledge to have to leave the classroom to do so. That is wrong. The Pledge is legal, traditional and convenient when said in the classroom. Visit the Pledge blog at: SaveThePledgeOfAllegiance.blogspot.com for more info and contact information.

[stevie_d_64]

Well,

I cling to my faith, my guns, and will defend my country with both...

If that is something that anyone has a problem with...Try and force me not to...

They will never be that unhappy, ever again...