I will try not to prolong the debate about the pledge of allegiance
since it probably is not a Minneapolis topic. (I originally fit it in
by announcing by how Minneapolis legislators voted). But I think it is
fair to briefly respond to the criticisms of my position that were
raised. Here is a brief summary of why I think requiring the pledge is
a bad thing:
1) The pledge of allegiance is a superficial and highly contradictory
way of reinforcing values of freedom and democracy. My idea of teaching
appreciation for such values as freedom and training for citizenship is
to teach independent and critical thinking, as well as extensive
knowledge as possible to inform that thinking. Standing up and reciting
a loyalty oath like robots on a daily basis seems to be the opposite of
these values. The pledge of allegiance is similar to school prayer in
the important ways that it involves pre-programmed and unquestioning
loyalty to a particular kind of abstract authority.
2) It this is truly a free country, people should have the freedom to
choose for themselves whether to pledge their loyalty. It should not be
a mandatory part of a school program. Although the state House's
legislation ostensibly gives students and teachers the choice not to
participate in the pledge, imagine the consequences in reality for a
grade school child among conservative classmates or under a conservative
teacher, who decides to sit down for the pledge of allegiance. The idea
of a voluntary pledge of allegiance is more flawed than "voluntary
school prayer."
3) The motivation for mandating the pledge of allegiance comes from
rightwing demogogic politicians (aka conservative Republicans) who want
to an easy way to garner support, intimidate others into going along out
of fear of being unpatriotic, and marginalizing those with valid
philosophical objections. This pattern will inevitably repeat itself in
the schools when the pledge is recited (see #2).
Jordan Kushner
Powderhorn
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