86amanda86

My senior year at high school, some people were trying to make saying the pledge of allegence in schools a mandatory thing. I faught against it though, because I beleive saying it is right, it shouldn't be forced. The reason for this is in the title. The PLEDGE of allegence. Pledge meaning- 'To volenteer support.' If we make people say it, it's not volentary and therefore is not a pledge, and there we
are not free.

What do you all think?

TheAngel

That depends on the school. If it is a private school, then I can understant that. The private school I went to had mandatory pledge every morning, and it's the same as going to a school with a moment of silence or prayer every morning. However, if it is a public school, no one should be forced to say something they don't want to, which is the right that America grants us. We say it every Friday at my school to be patriotic after 9/11. I say it every day in JROTC, so it depends on the situation.

alli balli

I don't think it should be mandatory. I usually don't say it when they say it at my school. Not a single person in there (except maybe some of the teachers) is even thinking about what they're saying. Not that it's a bad thing they're saying; it's just completely meaningless to most students and to force it upon us is pointless.

86amanda86

In a private school, they have that right, but I'm talking about pulic school. I thinks its wrong to force someone to say something they don't mean.

Jadiee

It should never be manditory. My school attempts to make it manditory but most teachers refuse to enforce it. I personally refuse to pledge to a flag, of a country, that is "under god". But this forced patriotic loyalty, whatnots, is useless.
What do you get out of saying the pledge each morning? besides an extra minute out of your day?

migamoo

When I was in elementary school is was mandatory. We even had to proev that we knew it by heart. But as I got into middle and high school, as long as we stood up during the pledge, it wasn't required to say.
I don't think it should be mandatory. Not everyone believes in the pledge. If that person doesn't want to say it, they shouldn't have to.
I personally did not say it. I don't believe in 'pledging' myself to a flag. It doesn't seem right.

Ashley

Mandy Renay

Do they still do that in elementary schools? We did, but nowadays I don't even know if they do or not. I remember in the first grade there was a poster in front of my desk that had the words on it next to a 'My Country Tis of Thee' poster. It's so weird but I can even remember what it looks like.

migamoo

I don't know. I think it was just for my school or that county's public school system.

The Daywalker

I don't stand or remove my hat when they sing the national anthem at sporting events.

86amanda86

it's not the plegde it self I have problem with, or the fact that it is to a flag(which i think is representing the counrty, so you actually pledging to the country). It forcing someone to pledge volentary support. If you force them, its not volentary is it....

mh67511

In 2nd grade we always sang "My Country Tis of Thee" and said the Pledge every morning. It was kind of fun though. I think of it mostly as like a metahphorical/historical significance.

meretwins

is that something you're proud of?...too many people have suffered and died to have the opportunity to do stand proudly when the song is played...it's like the vote...folks who can vote don't do it 'cause they don't care and the ones who can't wish they could...

anyhoo the pledge shouldn't be mandatory because it is voluntary...if you don't want to do it the least you can do is stand at attention in silence and wait 'till it's over...it seems that even consideration is a thing of the past...

86amanda86

no way, meretwins! Do you remember me? I used to be brokenangel back in the good old days on roswell!

I agree that it is our duty to sing and remember the people that died for our freedom. And that those whose don't wish to say the pledge should at least stay quiet through it....

meretwins

hey "formerly known as brokenangel" ...i don't think it's a duty to say the pledge i think it's something you should want to do and you should know why you're saying it...but i also don't see what's so brag-worthy of telling people you don't either....it's your choice either way but there's no need to be disrespectful about it...

86amanda86

I don't think the pledge is a duty, but i think the anthem is, they are two separate things and ideas in my opinion...