Police escort student out of class after refusal to recite Pledge of Allegiance

Wow!

I didn't know there were still teachers out there who were dumb enough to pull off a stunt like this. Then, when mom complained to the vice-principal, she was told her daughter should "apologise for her defiance".

Police escort student out of class after refusal to recite Pledge of Allegiance

A middle school teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland, will have to apologize to a 13-year-old student after yelling at her and having her escorted out of class by school police when the student refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

According to the ACLU of Maryland, a 13-year-old female student at Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance on Jan. 27. The teacher reportedly ordered the girl out into the hallway, where he threatened the girl with detention and then sent her to the school counselor's office.

The next day, when the student again refused to stand for the pledge, the teacher called school officers to remove her from the classroom and take her to the counselor's office once again.

"When the student’s mother reached out to an assistant principal for help in dealing with the teacher’s abusive and improper actions, the official said her daughter should instead apologize for her 'defiance.' The student did apologize, twice," the ACLU states.

The right to sit silently during the Pledge of Allegiance has been held up by the US Supreme Court, and is enshrined in Maryland state law and Mongtomery County Public Schools' own policies, reports the Washington Post.

Read more: The Raw Story

I think it's the educators in that school district that could use some educatin'.



[edit on 25/2/10 by FortAnthem]

I never said the pledge. I love my country, but I do not pledge allegiance to anything I do not stand for and I do not stand for corrupt governments! I always just sat while everyone stood or I stood facing an entirely wrong direction doing nothing but standing if told to stand and participate. My general thoughts were; what will they do to me? I would have loved my schools to try this with me! They certainly wouldnt have gotten an apology, thats for sure. Freedom of speech baby!

Originally posted by A-E-I-Owned-You
I never said the pledge. I love my country, but I do not pledge allegiance to anything I do not stand for and I do not stand for corrupt governments! I always just sat while everyone stood or I stood facing an entirely wrong direction doing nothing but standing if told to stand and participate. My general thoughts were; what will they do to me? I would have loved my schools to try this with me! They certainly wouldnt have gotten an apology, thats for sure. Freedom of speech baby!

Hear! Hear! As soon as I was old enough to realize what I was saying, I stopped saying the pledge, myself. I always stood up, arms at side, mouth shut, never spoke. When confronted by a teacher about it, I told her I would never pledge allegiance to something I did not understand. I contended I was too young at the time to understand the nature of the Republic of the United States of America.

When it came time for my kids to face the same challenge in school, I explained it to them and told them they had the choice. They both chose not to pledge allegiance to the flag of the U.S. or to Texas.

In fact, I think the first time my son actually pledged allegiance to the flag of the U.S. was when he joined the USAF... of course, that's part of the job.

At the beginning of the school year (I teach fifth grade) I explain to the kids what the words of the pledge mean. We take a couple of days to look at it.

Then I tell them they have the right to say the pledge, or not. If they don't want to say the pledge, then they can sit quietly and respectfully while those who do say it, say it.

Never had a problem. Some students say it, some don't, and sometimes they change their minds.

I hope that teacher is disciplined.

Ironically, the Pledge was invented by a socialist agitator that wanted a way for the Huddled Masses to prove their loyalty to their host, the USA, when there were serious doubts of their loyalty.

Those doubts might have had something to do with Polish-Jewish emigree "Red" Emma Goldman and her radical disciples that assassinated President McKinley, among other violent acts of "anarchist" (i.e., Bolshevik) terror.

True Americans -- by blood and heritage -- would never in a million years thought it necessary to pledge an oath to their own land and their own kin.

But such is Multicult. So many traitors, Quislings/Vichy and flat-out subversives infest America today that an oath/pledge is almost something of a necessity.

Too bad the US has not been a "nation" in the classic sense since those self-same Huddled Masses came here and displaced the founding British root stock.

It would seem to this observer at least, there is a distinct limit to who can and who cannot be "assimilated" into the Anglo-American gene pool, let alone the culture that uniquely served it, even as it attracted the world's ants to its picnic.

No matter. Let the ants have America. There is little left but the carcass, I am so very sorry to confess. We authentic Americans need to make a strategic retreat while we still can, perhaps claiming some little corner of our continent for ourselves to start all over again.

Originally posted by smyleegrl
At the beginning of the school year (I teach fifth grade) I explain to the kids what the words of the pledge mean. We take a couple of days to look at it.

Then I tell them they have the right to say the pledge, or not. If they don't want to say the pledge, then they can sit quietly and respectfully while those who do say it, say it.

Never had a problem. Some students say it, some don't, and sometimes they change their minds.

I hope that teacher is disciplined.

"I pledge allegiance to the constitution."

I bet if I recited that in class the teacher would have pulled out a car battery and tied me to a metal rack.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

It's basically meaningless in the sense that i was taught to recite it before I even knew what it meant. By the time I was able to think about it, I just stopped reciting it. Not because I don't like the country, or liberty, or justice, or the flag for that matter, but it seems like such obvious programming. And why the flag? Can't I pledge allegiance to something else, maybe something with some substance? Like I dunno, the constitution?

I also find it ironic that most of the hardcore supporters of the pledge recitation are likely to be hardcore patriots, specifically the kind that hate that "socialist Obama."

The pledge was written by a socialist....LOL.

Everyone here is exactly right, the teacher should not have done that . . . . . The other students should have!! If you want to sit in a classroom and get a US education and drive on US streets and be protected by the US Constitution, then you ought to be willing to stand up for its Pledge!

Sure, a government paid representative (i.e. Teacher) is probably violating the letter of the law, but it ought to be perfectly acceptable for that student to be shunned by all the others, ridiculed for sitting down during the pledge, and called a dirty Commy on the playground!

Of course I am kidding, kind of, but there is a place for bullies in a school.

When I was a teacher in middle school I always gave the right to my students to chose if they wanted to stand to the pledge or just sit down.

Why? because its not mandatory, is not part of our constitution and is just something that its historical background was one of personal choice.

As a mother I would pursue the school for taking away time from my child education that is mandatory in this nation due to moronic teachers and school officials with lack of intelligence to teach and be in charge of education.

Originally posted by FortAnthem

Police escort student out of class after refusal to recite Pledge of Allegiance

My thoughts? One should stand out of respect for the act...or the anthem...or ones peers, but one needn't repeat the vow, or sing, or whatever. If I'm in church (not too often, I might add) and it's time to bow one's head and pray...I bow my head, and my thoughts are my own. I'm thinkin' the wee lass might have been a little less confrontational...but the school ought to have more important things to deal with.

Nobody looked good on that day, in my humble opinion.

reply to post by getreadyalready

f you want to sit in a classroom and get a US education and drive on US streets and be protected by the US Constitution, then you ought to be willing to stand up for its Pledge!

the pledge is to the flag, it mentions nothing of the constitution...

it does however mention "liberty for all" I don't see why choosing not to recite the thing wouldn't fall under that. The pledge itself actually lets people off the hook for NOT reciting it.

Originally posted by liquidsmoke206
reply to post by getreadyalready

 

f you want to sit in a classroom and get a US education and drive on US streets and be protected by the US Constitution, then you ought to be willing to stand up for its Pledge!

the pledge is to the flag, it mentions nothing of the constitution...

it does however mention "liberty for all" I don't see why choosing not to recite the thing wouldn't fall under that. The pledge itself actually lets people off the hook for NOT reciting it.

LOL. You got me there, and honestly I am a little uncomfortable with any type of "Swearing" or "Pledging" to anything. Kind of an idolatry to a flag or a Bible instead of to real values.

BUT, I appreciate the tradition, and I appreciate the honor and the respect that it teaches, and I would be very offended if someone in any of my groups did not at least stand up humbly and quietly while I recited the Pledge. I would be plenty offended enough to make sure they knew about it, and if I had any authority or clout, I would make sure they handled themselves correctly the next time!

Can we arrest Obama for all of the pictures I've seen when he didn't put his hand over his heart for the very same reason??
STUPID...STUPID...STUPID!!!

reply to post by smyleegrl


Smylee, Bravo!

You have taken the time to recognize that your students have mailable minds and need great care upon which you impress upon them.

You are a rare breed indeed because you took the time to explain what the Pledge is and most importantly, that it is not a requirement to recite it.

I commend you and hope I find more of you out there teaching our young!

Originally posted by liquidsmoke206

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

It's basically meaningless in the sense that i was taught to recite it before I even knew what it meant. By the time I was able to think about it, I just stopped reciting it. Not because I don't like the country, or liberty, or justice, or the flag for that matter, but it seems like such obvious programming. And why the flag? Can't I pledge allegiance to something else, maybe something with some substance? Like I dunno, the constitution?

I also find it ironic that most of the hardcore supporters of the pledge recitation are likely to be hardcore patriots, specifically the kind that hate that "socialist Obama."

The pledge was written by a socialist....LOL.

Pretty much same thing here

Although we never had to do this past 6th grade or something - It's hard to get a class of 14-15 year olds to do anything anyway.

reply to post by getreadyalready

BUT, I appreciate the tradition, and I appreciate the honor and the respect that it teaches, and I would be very offended if someone in any of my groups did not at least stand up humbly and quietly while I recited the Pledge. I would be plenty offended enough to make sure they knew about it, and if I had any authority or clout, I would make sure they handled themselves correctly the next time!

well lets see...they're forced to go to school....where you think they should be forced to stand for something that they don't have to recite if they don't want to. That something by the way appears to tout liberty....

I don't know how you can deny that you're inconsistent and confused on all of this. I mean...isn't standing for it more or less saying it? People shouldn't be forced to go to school...to say the pledge, or even stand for it. The whole thing is so trivial and stupid anyways, I can't believe so many people take it seriously enough to disrupt a class by taking the kid out of it and involving a cop.

How about this...people who wanna say the pledge can write it down silently in their notebooks at the start of class...problem solved.

Maybe they should show some initiative and start a school club that recites it at the beginning of every meeting. Then they can spend time discussing what it means among other patriotic issues associated and stemming from it. You have the liberty to join or not join the liberty club.

The Teacher was wrong. So are the people who equate the pledge with whoever happens to be in power.

When you pledge an oath to your country, you are not pledging an oath to Bush, Obama or any other person in government.

That kid is to young to even know. The child is just parroting their Parents.

The oath is to the flag and what it stands for. Liberty and Justice for all. Not anything else. It is peoples right to be opposed to Liberty and Justice, but they need not lie about it and pretend the oath is to the government that happens to be in office at the moment.

The Teacher failed a second way in not making sure the children understood the oath. Of course there is not much a Teacher can do about a child following the teachings of illiterate parents. The oath is to the country and not supporting that is just plain wrong.

reply to post by liquidsmoke206


They are not "forced" to go to school. They are lucky to have the opportunity to go to school safely and securely in climate controlled classrooms with nice books and computers and adequate lighting and school lunches and equal opportunity and for free. How many other countries around the world would love to have the same opportunity?

Again, I said the teacher was technically out of line, but at the same time some other student should have snatched that girl to attention and let her learn a hard lesson about being disrespectful to her peers.

Standing in respect for something held sacred by other people is not the same as reciting it or even agreeing with it. Do you pull to the side and wait as a funeral procession goes by? Do you stand to shake the hand of a new acquaintence? Do you stand when a Judge enters the room? It is a show of respect and it is important and anything less is rude.

I am not inconsistent. It is not the governments right to "force" anything upon its people, but it is certainly bad behaviour for a student in a classroom to be disrespectful of the other students, the teacher, or the flag.

reply to post by getreadyalready


this is soo dumb, I could easily argue everything you're saying in the other direction.

They are not "forced" to go to school.

since it is actually illegal to not go to school up until a certain age at least, then I don't know how you can say people aren't forced to go to school.

They are lucky to have the opportunity to go to school safely and securely in climate controlled classrooms with nice books and computers and adequate lighting and school lunches and equal opportunity and for free. How many other countries around the world would love to have the same opportunity?

well if you're talking about industrialized nations, the US isn't exactly numero uno, when it comes to education. and well I don't know if you saw the recent school shooting in colorado so that pretty much shoots a hole in your safety argument. and school lunches...come one dude, I don't know where you went to school at but kids have been hating that slop since before i was even alive.

but at the same time some other student should have snatched that girl to attention and let her learn a hard lesson about being disrespectful to her peers.

oh so it's not the teachers job to pull students aside, we should leave that to other students, who by the way I saw no mention of feeling disrespected. You don't think it would be disrespectful to human intelligence to teach a girl a "hard lesson" simply because she was sitting quietly in a chair? as far as I can tell she was being respectful enough to let everyone else go thru their daily ritual. Shouldn't the students feel more disrespected by the teacher who disrupted class over something insignificant? Like I alluded to earlier, how many of these students even know what the allegiance means or even care? The whole thing is so stupid, I'm starting to feel like a tool for even commenting on it.

Do you pull to the side and wait as a funeral procession goes by?

its never come up, but i think thats apples and oranges...

Do you stand to shake the hand of a new acquaintence?

I prefer the fist pound. But if I know who the person is before hand and I don't like them, then no, I wont stand or shake.

Do you stand when a Judge enters the room?

see above.

it is certainly bad behaviour for a student in a classroom to be disrespectful of the other students, the teacher, or the flag.

its disrespectful to her to force behavior upon her at a place where she is forced to be. I've never heard her side of this so I don't know that she was out right disrespecting, anything on your list there. You just choose to see it that way. If everyone had thicker skin like yer man liquidsmoke here, then this would be a non-issue. I mean do any of the other students even care? are there teachers who think that the pledge is waste of valuable class time? isn't that disrespectful, to waste class time? as far as I can tell she's fully respecting the flag by exercising her rights as an american.

pretty cut and dry...

reply to post by liquidsmoke206


I totally agree with the "thicker skin" comment, and that is a good lesson for the whole country. I also totally agree that the teacher should not have disrupted the class, nor got the police? involved. I also totally agree that the US Education system is pretty sorry as far as how well it actually "educates" its students.

At the same time, it is pretty arrogant of a lot of our students to "hate" their school lunches when even in our own country sometimes it is the best or only meal that the kid eats all day, and in other countries it would be considered a very special luxury.

Now the school shootings here and there do not constitute an unsafe environment compared to say Afghanistan or Africa where truckloads of armed men come by and kidnap or kill all the females, or all the kids of a certain tribal heritage. It is much much safer than Haiti or S. America where floods and landslides and crumbling buildings kill students routinely.

I also still disagree that any student is "forced" to go to school. I know they feel that way, and that is sad. I know that Child Welfare Services will bring charges against parents that don't get their kids to school, because that is unacceptable in a country like ours, but there are still plenty of kids that don't go, because they are expelled repeatedly, or they fall through the cracks, or any number of reasons. (I have two cousins from a trashy family and neither kid made it past 2nd grade. Of course the kids were in and out of Foster Care and their parents were threatened and fined, and they lost custody a few times, but it still happened and now in their 20's they still can't read.)

Your comment about not standing up to shake someone's hand if you know them and dislike them is exactly what I am getting at. You don't do it because you don't respect that person. If you did respect them, you would stand up and smile and say nice to meet you. If you did not learn that from your parents, or your football coach, or your drama teacher, then I am sorry for you. I hope you don't have to learn a "hard" lesson about disrespecting somebody now that you are an adult. It hurts a lot more after you are grown!

Edit to clarify:
There are a few people like me around that don't mind popping a 16 year old or 20 year old across the top of their head and saying, "Stand up when you talk to me boy, don't you have any manners?" After that "friendly" reminder, you have a tough choice to make about your personal views on life, and we may become friends, or you may decide to not be in my presence very often, and that is just fine.

[edit on 25-2-2010 by getreadyalready]