Marion County School Board requires students to stand for Pledge of Allegiance
May 31, 2009 at 7:47 am by Ben Luongo
By Ben Luongo
PoHo contributor
The Marion County School Board has ruled on the Code of Student Conduct, which now requires students to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, after a meeting last week. For months, the school board debated the proposed change to the code which wouldn’t require students to stand. Veterans from the area attended the meeting to protest the proposed change arguing that not standing for the pledge is disrespectful. The only leeway in the code allows students not to stand as long as they have a note from their parents.
The school board decided to remove the “standing clause” last year after a federal court ruling did not require students to stand. However, this change was met with pressure for the past couple of months from local veterans and possible lawsuits.
Are we comfortable with requiring our students to stand?
It has always been a controversial debate where freedom of expression meets respect for nation, and this particular debate is more complicated because it concerns our children. We want to teach and guide our children the best we can, which means that we often need to assert our authority over their actions. However, should we intervene in this case?
First, this isn’t a case of parents providing guidance for their children, this is a case of the school requiring the students to act a certain way. I realize that the parents have an option of writing a note excusing their child from participating in the pledge, but we should ask ourselves if the school should have any authority on the political behavior of students what so ever.
Second, what do we hope to accomplish by requiring students to stand. The Pledge of Allegiance is an expression of loyalty and devotion to the United States. Can such an expression be sincere if it is coerced?
The protestors that wanted the “standing clause” to remain argued that standing was a sign of respect. However, what are children learning about respect when the school doesn’t respect the personal wishes of a child. Shouldn’t respect go both ways? Can’t a child be respectful during the pledge when not participating in it? What is disrespectful is assuming that all children naturally feel devoted or loyal to the country.
Sincere loyalty and love of country requires an understanding of what happens in the nation and reflecting on it. Typically, children don’t have much civic experience or a firm understanding of government or politics. Requiring children to pledge allegiance to a country that they may be too young to fully grasp is presumptuous. In other words, should we assume children have the maturity to devote loyalty and pledge allegiance to anything let alone force them to do it.
The Marion School Board may have good intentions but the community needs to reflect on the role that the school plays in our youths’ national convictions.
