{"id":7535,"date":"2024-12-11T09:57:26","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T14:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dahlman.online\/?p=7535"},"modified":"2024-12-11T09:57:29","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T14:57:29","slug":"your-kid-my-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dahlman.online\/index.php\/2024\/12\/11\/your-kid-my-choice\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Kid, My Choice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lame Duck<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It all happens in the \u201clame duck\u201d session. That’s the harried last few weeks before the Ohio State Legislature is adjourned for the year.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0One of those last minute bills this season requires school districts to \u201cpublish\u201d their policy on the Pledge of Allegiance (WCMH<\/a>).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pledge Policy bill would not require school districts to recite the pledge.  What it would do is require all districts to publish a policy for it online.  Some districts don\u2019t have a specific policy on the Pledge of Allegiance.  It is often a matter of individual school administrators.  And that would be \u201cOK\u201d under the bill, but the district would have to make that a publicly available policy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a local school district here in Central Ohio has the following policy publicly in place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Board requires all students, grades kindergarten through 12, to recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the school day at a time and manner specified by the building principal.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, District administrators, staff and students are prohibited from altering the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Board recognizes that beliefs of some persons prohibit participation in the pledge, the salute to the United States flag or other opening exercises.  Therefore, such persons are excused from participation.<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Board prohibits the intimidation of any student by other students or staff aimed at coercing participation in reciting the pledge. (2017,2020 – Board Docs<\/a>).<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most schools recite the Pledge of Allegiance sometime during the school day.\u00a0\u00a0It was\u00a0common practice in public schools up until the late 1960\u2019s. But then the Pledge became a focus for student protests against the Vietnam War.\u00a0\u00a0Many schools determined to avoid controversy\u00a0\u00a0and division by dropping the practice.\u00a0\u00a0It wasn’t until the early 2000’s that reciting the pledge made a \u201ccomeback\u201d, after the attacks of 9\/11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why a Bill?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So what\u2019s the purpose of the \u201cPledge Policy\u201d bill?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The avowed purpose is to push school districts to include the Pledge in their classrooms.\u00a0\u00a0By requiring them to \u201cpublish\u201d a policy, the local Boards of Education would open public debate on the issue. That puts a Board without an \u201cacceptable\u201d policy in the public glare.\u00a0\u00a0The bill\u2019s sponsor, Tracy Richardson of Marysville (R), states that:\u00a0\u201cOhioans are concerned that we are losing our identity as a nation, a nation that is full of opportunity, freedom, and justice for all<\/em>\u2026\u201d. She believes that reciting the Pledge would\u00a0\u00a0promote; \u201cunity and nationalism by affirming our commitment to our values.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representative Richardson must have missed that high school social studies class when they explained the difference between patriotism and nationalism.\u00a0\u00a0Patriotism is defined as; \u201c\u2026devotion\u00a0to and\u00a0vigorous\u00a0support for one’s country<\/em>\u201d (OED<\/a>1).\u00a0\u00a0Nationalism on the other hand, is; \u201c\u2026identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the\u00a0exclusion\u00a0or\u00a0detriment\u00a0of the interests of other nations<\/em>\u201d (OED<\/a>2).\u00a0\u00a0The first one is \u201cgood\u201d, the second a cause of war.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justice for All<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As an American, a patriot, and a retired teacher, I don\u2019t have a problem with personally reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.\u00a0\u00a0I have a role as a teacher, coach, and now an athletic official. And I recognize the public example I set by being patriotic.\u00a0\u00a0But in practice, many students stand, put their hand over their heart, and listen to the Pledge recited by someone else rather than Pledge themselves.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am concerned though, for those students who remain seated because of their individual beliefs, religious or political. If the avowed goal of the Pledge is to \u201cpromote unity\u201d; physically identifying students whose beliefs prohibit reciting it, is hardly unifying.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cLiberty and Justice for All\u201d might be learned in the example of those who sit; what a good teacher might use as a \u201cteachable moment\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But, just as likely in our era of internet bullying, it might set them up as\u00a0\u00a0targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local schools know best what their student body is like and what is best for them.  For a state legislator from Marysville to tell schools in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Millersburg, Ansonia or Pataskala how to \u201cPledge\u201d is an overreach.  But, of course, Ms. Richardson isn\u2019t \u201ctelling\u201d them anything.  She\u2019s a better politician than that.  She\u2019s just forcing them into confrontation, where a majority of the parents can tell a minority how all kids should be taught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s the point.  Parents can and should make choices about their own child\u2019s education.  But they shouldn\u2019t have the right to choose what happens to someone else\u2019s kid.  Parent choice should cut both ways, even with the Pledge of Allegiance. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lame Duck It all happens in the \u201clame duck\u201d session. That’s the harried last few weeks before the Ohio State Legislature is adjourned for the year.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0One of those last minute bills this season requires school districts to \u201cpublish\u201d their policy on the Pledge of Allegiance (WCMH).\u00a0\u00a0 The Pledge Policy bill would not require school districts … Continue reading “Your Kid, My Choice”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nYour Kid, My Choice : Our America - Essays on Politics and American Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dahlman.online\/index.php\/2024\/12\/11\/your-kid-my-choice\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Your Kid, My Choice : Our America - Essays on Politics and American Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Lame Duck It all happens in the \u201clame duck\u201d session. That’s the harried last few weeks before the Ohio State Legislature is adjourned for the year.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0One of those last minute bills this season requires school districts to \u201cpublish\u201d their policy on the Pledge of Allegiance (WCMH).\u00a0\u00a0 The Pledge Policy bill would not require school districts … Continue reading "Your Kid, My Choice"\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dahlman.online\/index.php\/2024\/12\/11\/your-kid-my-choice\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Our America - Essays on Politics and American Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/m.facebook.com\/Dahlmanonline-610417212502642\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/m.facebook.com\/Dahlmanonline-610417212502642\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-11T14:57:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-11T14:57:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dahlman.online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/IMG_3564-e1488996194684.jpg?fit=480%2C640&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"480\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Marty Dahlman\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@martydahlman\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@martydahlman\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Marty Dahlman\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dahlman.online\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/11\\\/your-kid-my-choice\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dahlman.online\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/11\\\/your-kid-my-choice\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Marty Dahlman\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dahlman.online\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5fa8c1b0305cf5f1f3633225843e621c\"},\"headline\":\"Your Kid, My Choice\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-11T14:57:26+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-11T14:57:29+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dahlman.online\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/11\\\/your-kid-my-choice\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":805,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dahlman.online\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5fa8c1b0305cf5f1f3633225843e621c\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/dahlman.online\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/11\\\/your-kid-my-choice\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dahlman.online\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/11\\\/your-kid-my-choice\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dahlman.online\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/11\\\/your-kid-my-choice\\\/\",\"name\":\"Your Kid, My Choice : Our America - 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