This child sat for the pledge — so his teacher ‘violently’ snatched him from his chair, he says

This is an interesting situation involving an 11 year old black child in Michigan who has been sitting for the pledge for awhile now, but was recently (allegedly) violently yanked from his chair while so doing:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...air-he-says/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_1_na

Is there justification for an agent of a public school forcing a child to stand against the child's wishes in such a situation?

The agent in this case has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated, but should they be fired?

Does anyone feel the child was in the wrong here?

 

I don't, not really. I didn't stand for the pledge much myself in my educational years. And generally, I find that you only grow to attach yourself to your country with age.

 

The child was very wrong from a moral and philosophical basis but legally the chil's refusal to stand is protected by the Constitution.

You, me, and Bobby McGee can disagree with thecaction of that child but if honor the Constitution we must sadly stand by whike kids are influenced by their morally corrupt parents.

 

Is it the Jehovah Witnesses or the radical. Seventh Day Adventists who are given a religious pass not to pledge allegence to the country?

So if we let religious radical whack jobs get away with disrespecting our flag, country, culture how do we stop political or racist whack jobs from following suit?

 

I thin children should stand for the pledge and the national anthem. IMO its a matter of good manners and respect.

 

Well it certainly is a matter of conditioning and submission to authority, I'll grant you that.

 

This story about the pledge hit me because something like it happened at a VA volunteer luncheon I went to last Friday. I am still pissed if as hell and when I get get from my jaunt out on The Sound ( Long Island Sound that is ) this morning I will post my rant in the Political Opinion section using my Mac Book for better typing. I was so pissed off I hardly ate the nice lunch the VA provided.

 

Totally agree and I strongly believe that an adult is behind the radicalism of that child.

 

Which has declined at a staggering rate in America. I would say this has been because liberals have taken over culture in America led by the media.

 

Well, as long as we must play a blame game, I'll blame the neocons in both parties who have us at a record 16 years in an undeclared and fraudulent war on a tactic. Really, who on earth can respect such leaders? Is that really liberty and justice for all? At what point does reciting a pledge to a flag become lip service?

 

this is why God needs to be removed from the pledge, some religious nuts see it as an attack on their religion if people wont stand and say "one nation under God"

we are still the land of the free are we not?

I say fire the teacher if they did this and bar them from ever working for the government schools again

 

I disagree, not everyone believes in a God, we need to go back to the original pledge, this one divides us rather then unites us

 

Notice the trigger warning of the far right and alt right furor: anything with which they disagree.

 

as long as you treat all children equal, that would mean all children have to do that.... sounds ridiculous to me

how about unisex bathrooms like we have in hospitals here, seems to work there without issue

 

teacher abuses child and some blame the child and their parents?

 

Its not 'good manners' to shove a patriotic and theist ritual down the throats of kids and force them to stand, bow, or otherwise supplicate to a political symbol, especially if the process is contrary to what their parents may have taught them. Some parents may not want their children to pledge allegiance to any flag or government because such allegiance is reserved only for God. Others may be teaching their children not to show deference to a 'God' that does not exist. Don't confuse patriotic behavior with submissive behavior. The kids can show sufficient respect by sitting quietly and unobtrusively and public employees should model respect for the values of these parents if they want more normative ones respected by these parents.

 

Completely ridiculous.

This is now American 'culture'.






America has devolved into worshiping savagery as 'art'.

 

Yes, the child was in the wrong. He was disrespecting the teacher who asked the class to stand and his agenda was to draw attention to himself. His parents are actually to blame....They encourage this even though it's not in this boys best interests and it disrupts the class. Selfish.

The boy should have been suspended and the teacher should have had support from school officials. Respect for authority is crucial not only for kids to learn, but it is important for the rest of the class to have a learning environment.

 

I do not support the gangster rap culture and would not support the government forcing your child to support it

if a teacher tried to make students stand and say the pledge in a rap, I would support your child's right to respectfully sit and not participate

the difference is the government (this teacher is the Government) forcing your children to participate

 

Oh dear lord. What if the teacher says no chewing gum , or no talking in class , does little LeBron get to do what he wants to do ? Teacher says stand , stand .

 

The child does not have to say the pledge. He doesn't have to put his hand on his heart. The only reason he is encouraged to disrespect his teacher and stay sitting when told to stand, is to draw attention to himself and transform from student to activist. Not in this child's best interests.

 

Oh for pete's sake, you think it's IMMORAL not to stand for the Pledge?

How ridiculous!

That child is an American and does NOT have to prove it every day by reciting some claptrap.

When you go to work are you all forced to stand and recite the Pledge???


Would that make you MORE of an American than others who don't say it every day before work???


Would that make you more moral?

 

I think children should be respectful. In my school even foreign nationals stood out of respect for the flag, the pledge and the national anthem. The gangsta culture is steeped in defiance and disrespect.

 

So when i say the pledge i use the original version , without reference to a sky fairy which was included in 1955

 

if the teacher says everyone must chew gum, yes the child can opt out... do you think the teacher should be able to force the child to chew gum too?

how about schools be used for teaching kids, the pledge is not about learning, I have no issues with student having to learn the pledge in history class, but making them stand day in and day out reciting it.... ridiculously tedious

the only reason the less government religious right want to force children to do this is they added "under God" to it, no other reason