NM official seeks more comment on pledge rule

New Mexico Education Secretary Veronica Garcia on Thursday reopened the comment period on a rule change that would allow school children to opt out of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, a morning ritual in public schools around the state.

[sue of rio rancho]

I cant believe they are serious. Children already have the option to opt out of the pledge by not reciting it but giving the flag the respect it deserves by standing silentlyshould not be denied. Our great nation and the people who fought and died for what our flag stood for should be respected. If they do pass this admendment they will be doing a major disservice. It is not just a tradition, you are promising (pledging) your loyalty(allegiance) to your country that you have the priviledge to live in.

[Pat]

"Garcia says the pledge is an important American tradition, but adds that those students who choose not to recite the pledge because of their beliefs should be respected."
I know I'm probably going to get jumped on here for this hard-line stance, but I don't care; it's my belief and I have the right to say it. It's a pledge of loyalty to the United States, if they don't say it, they are not loyal and should be expelled from the school that is free to them as a loyal citizen. How could you not want to recite the pledge? Those who don't want to recite it should think about all of the immigrants who in many cases, risked everything to get here to become and citizen. They would gladly recite the pledge. I don't want to make this political, but I'm sure a lot on here will anyway. Just to prove that this isn't about party politics, I'm a life-long Democrat. My particular stance on this may seem to some as pretty right leaning, but this isn't about "liberal" vs. "conservative, it's about being an American citizen and whether you're proud enough of it to recite the pledge!

[Sick Of Stupid]

sue of rio rancho wrote:

I cant believe they are serious. Children already have the option to opt out of the pledge by not reciting it but giving the flag the respect it deserves by standing silentlyshould not be denied. Our great nation and the people who fought and died for what our flag stood for should be respected. If they do pass this admendment they will be doing a major disservice. It is not just a tradition, you are promising (pledging) your loyalty(allegiance) to your country that you have the priviledge to live in.

Privilege ? LIL you mean you have a choice on were you are born ? I guess when your born you get offered a travel ticket free passport and passage to the destination of your choice ?

The only thing my country has done ,in my life time, worthy of any respect is , well nothing . So by virtue of birth I must demonstrate some sort of loyalty ? or patriotism ? I guess if your country's politics and foreign policy is abysmal , then forced patriotism is the only option .

If we decide to force these patriotic activity's on our kids we probably should stop referring to the United States has the "land of the free". We wouldn't want to confuse the kids we are trying to educate with such a obvious fallacy.

[Sick Of Stupid]

Pat wrote:

"Garcia says the pledge is an important American tradition, but adds that those students who choose not to recite the pledge because of their beliefs should be respected."
I know I'm probably going to get jumped on here for this hard-line stance, but I don't care; it's my belief and I have the right to say it. It's a pledge of loyalty to the United States, if they don't say it, they are not loyal and should be expelled from the school that is free to them as a loyal citizen. How could you not want to recite the pledge? Those who don't want to recite it should think about all of the immigrants who in many cases, risked everything to get here to become and citizen. They would gladly recite the pledge. I don't want to make this political, but I'm sure a lot on here will anyway. Just to prove that this isn't about party politics, I'm a life-long Democrat. My particular stance on this may seem to some as pretty right leaning, but this isn't about "liberal" vs. "conservative, it's about being an American citizen and whether you're proud enough of it to recite the pledge!

Fair enough then the parents should receive a big tax refund , since they no longer are using the public education system why should they have to continue to pay for it ?
When my country does something to be proud of I will gladly say the pledge of allegiance

[manuel marquez]

just because one lives in this
country doesn't mean that you
have to have an allegiance to
it. Our allegiance should be
to our Grand Creator not some
flag or country. We have the
right of religon and that was
the foundation that this here
country was formed for. So
who is dictating that this
must be a law or a child will
not be allowed to be educated
in our school system. How can
one say this is not idiotic.
What should be the main and
only concern for our student
is that they recieve an all
important education. It should
not be about allegiance to a
country or flag. If that is
the case send those off to the
military or a military school
where that is the most important thought of that one
individual. Wake up and smell
the coffee people this is not
a big deal. Get over it and
you say the pledge of allegaince at your own home
and salute your flag in your
own home for your own self.

[Jody]

If their belief is to be respected so should mine to be able say a prayer.

[Jody]

If you are not PROUD of our country
Leave it go to some other country where you will be proud. See how many rights and freedom you lose

[Duh]

Sick Of Stupid wrote:

<quoted text>Privilege ?
The only thing my country has done ,in my life time, worthy of any respect is , well nothing.

Since your country, paid for by your neighbors have done nothing for you, then leave. Go some OTHER country that you believe will do something FOR YOU.

That said, please repay the tax money spent on your public education, the roads you have so far driven on, the lighting along streets, the public servants who have worked upon your behalf to protect you from natural disasters, your drinking water, etc.

The United States has done nothing for you & as one of your neighbors, I wish that you would just leave.

[Cheeky]

Well said Duh! I read somewhere once and it has stuck with me,,,

If you insist on buring our Flag please wrap yourself in it first!!

[btdt]

During their 13 years in school, students will spend the equivalent of 12 full school days, reciting the pledge 2,500 times, in two languages.

If anyone believes that that experience makes students patriots, then we should add a few bars;

I pledge allegiance to the NCLB and Standards Based Assessment testing.

I pledge not to be tardy or truant.

I pledge not to be a drop out.

I pledge to do my homework and work hard in class

I pledge to treat teachers and my school with respect.

I pledge to stay out of gangs and off of drugs.

I pledge to grow up to be decent human being who will contribute to my community in a positive way.

Are we not seeing an easy solution to all of our problems in school?

[america]

btdt wrote:

During their 13 years in school, students will spend the equivalent of 12 full school days, reciting the pledge 2,500 times, in two languages.
If anyone believes that that experience makes students patriots, then we should add a few bars;
I pledge allegiance to the NCLB and Standards Based Assessment testing.
I pledge not to be tardy or truant.
I pledge not to be a drop out.
I pledge to do my homework and work hard in class
I pledge to treat teachers and my school with respect.
I pledge to stay out of gangs and off of drugs.
I pledge to grow up to be decent human being who will contribute to my community in a positive way.
Are we not seeing an easy solution to all of our problems in school?

No one should be made to pledge any of what you are stating. That is the standard moral good citizen behavior.It does not take a village but a good mother and father to instill good moral and values to make a decent human. The Pledge of Allegiance is support for this great country that give people the freedom we have to prosper. Take a good look at Iran. The pledge should stay and add the prayer again. The morality of the young are being lost, lost in this leftist abyss rule.

[Sick Of Stupid]

Duh wrote:

<quoted text>
Since your country, paid for by your neighbors have done nothing for you, then leave. Go some OTHER country that you believe will do something FOR YOU.
That said, please repay the tax money spent on your public education, the roads you have so far driven on, the lighting along streets, the public servants who have worked upon your behalf to protect you from natural disasters, your drinking water, etc.
The United States has done nothing for you & as one of your neighbors, I wish that you would just leave.

I have paid taxes for all those things you think are free , when my money has been refunded I will happily leave

[Sick Of Stupid]

Jody wrote:

If you are not PROUD of our country
Leave it go to some other country where you will be proud. See how many rights and freedom you lose

Canada and the United Kingdom , zero freedoms lost , and free health care , the catch is they don't often let Americans immigrate

[Sick Of Stupid]

Cheeky wrote:

Well said Duh! I read somewhere once and it has stuck with me,,,
If you insist on buring our Flag please wrap yourself in it first!!

I will , then run over and give you a long hot hug .

[btdt]

america wrote:

<quoted text>
.. a good mother and father to instill good moral and values ...

Great plan!

Why don't you go find us a whole bunch of them,
and hurry back.

We'll give a couple to every kid.

[Ret US Army 1st Sergeant]

First, God not allowed in schools now Allegiance to the Flag being questioned. Bring back the Prayer and maybe God will forgive, Keep the Pledge and explain it's meaning and History and maybe this new Generation will become better Leaders than what we now have.

[Edumacator]

As a teacher, I really do not care if you keep the pledge or not. I do however, care very deeply, that you enforce whatever it is you decide. Right now some districts like APS do not require the student to recite the pledge. The way it works out is that the one or two minutes it might take are wasted. There are many, many rules, dress codes, ipods, cell phones on and on, that are not being enforced. What does that teach kids? How are they supposed to know when we are serious?
So, I don't really care, but one more unenforceable rule is not needed and only helps with lack of discipline in the classroom.

[Agent]

Sick Of Stupid wrote:

<quoted text>I will , then run over and give you a long hot hug .

I said the pledge every morning in the classroom.

I used to say "for wiget stands" instead of "for which it stands."

Nevertheless, God Bless the USA.

"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."

[Sick Of Stupid]

Agent wrote:

<quoted text>
I said the pledge every morning in the classroom.
I used to say "for wiget stands" instead of "for which it stands."
Nevertheless, God Bless the USA.
"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."

When you say it and mean it it is worth something , forcing people to say it devalues it .

[Duh]

america wrote:

<quoted text>
No one should be made to pledge any of what you are stating. That is the standard moral good citizen behavior.It does not take a village but a good mother and father to instill good moral and values to make a decent human. The Pledge of Allegiance is support for this great country that give people the freedom we have to prosper. Take a good look at Iran. The pledge should stay and add the prayer again. The morality of the young are being lost, lost in this leftist abyss rule.

Good response, but obviously it touched someone enough that they filled up all of your emoticons. Common sense isn't highly valued any more.