Saying the Pledge in school: Yes, but no compulsion

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The school board in Brookville is embroiled in an emotional debate about whether recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in its schools ought to be required.
The debate ought not to be so emotional.
The reason? The United States of America is a free country.
If I am forced to say something, I am not "free."
That's the general principle. But some common sense needs to be applied, by schools and by courts, in putting that principle into effect.
School students are not free to walk in and out of the classroom whenever they choose. However, most of the time, adults are free to walk in and out of buildings, even places of employment, whenever they choose - although there could be consequences to such strolls, e.g., unemployment.
Students ought to be taught the Pledge of Allegiance, and ought to be required to memorize it and to recite it as part of their education in American history and civics.
We also think that school classes beginning the day with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is a wonderful expression of patriotism. It should be encouraged.
But not required.
We do not require our citizens to vote. We do not require our male citizens to remove their hats or salute, either militarily or with hands over hearts, during the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner."
All Americans ought to make those gestures, in our opinion - but as free people freely expressing allegiance to our country and support for its symbols. We expect that behavior but, because we are a free people, we do not compel it of adults, though we are free to peaceably convey our displeasure at nonconformity.
However, school students, by definition, are not yet fully educated. If they were, they wouldn't be in school.
Just as schools need to teach students how to assemble peacefully, how to stand quietly in lines or queues, how to wait their turns and move as groups, etc., schools need to teach the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
That cannot be done without reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, in our opinion.
So we think that recitation of the Pledge ought to be required in the elementary grades - but no sanctions ought to be applied for peaceful, non-disruptive noncompliance, e.g., standing quietly.
We might disagree with what our neighbor says, but we ought to defend, to the death if need be, that neighbor's right to freedom of speech.
That's America. A free country.
Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is speech, symbolic speech. Declining to speak is as much a part of freedom of speech as is uttering words - or else the person isn't really free.
This isn't worth a huge hue and cry. School directors and parents have much more complex issues demanding their attention.
The Pledge ought to be taught, and recited, in our schools.
But compulsion does not comport with freedom.