Just dont know what to say..........

[Jdarg]

no its not just public school, but private schools can tell the parent to take it or leave it, and the parents have the option to leave the school to find a more "appropriate" setting for their child. I've seen this in our little school. only once though. typically, parents do their homework before paying for private school, and they know if the environment/curriculum/etc is appropriate for their child and family.

In Louisville, the non-parochial and non-religous private schools would only tell parents to take a hike if they weren't major $$ contributors. The families that contributed big dollars had lots of influence. You have to remember too that in larger communities, people send their kids to private school for reasons other than a good education- more of as protection against the masses and the false sense of security of having their kids with the other "right" kids, also the status symbol factor. Then, once they are enrolled, they worry about things like curriculum and environment. Thankfully, SoWal isn't large enough for the status symbol private school enrollments to be an issue.

 

[Teresa]

In Louisville, the non-parochial and non-religous private schools would only tell parents to take a hike if they weren't major $$ contributors. The families that contributed big dollars had lots of influence. You have to remember too that in larger communities, people send their kids to private school for reasons other than a good education- more of as protection against the masses and the false sense of security of having their kids with the other "right" kids, also the status symbol factor. Then, once they are enrolled, they worry about things like curriculum and environment. Thankfully, SoWal isn't large enough for the status symbol private school enrollments to be an issue.

I've never lived in a huge city, but I've heard in some places you have no real choice other than private education for your children, due to poor public school systems. which is really ashame. How do people afford private education, K-12, especially when they have more than one child? We are very fortunate in sowal - all good schools from my experience, and from what I know and hear about.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I've never lived in a huge city, but I've heard in some places you have no real choice other than private education for your children, due to poor public school systems. which is really ashame. How do people afford private education, K-12, especially when they have more than one child? We are very fortunate in sowal - all good schools from my experience, and from what I know and hear about.

As I used to say...private school tuition is a form of birth control.

 

[Rudyjohn]

I've never lived in a huge city, but I've heard in some places you have no real choice other than private education for your children, due to poor public school systems. which is really ashame. How do people afford private education, K-12, especially when they have more than one child? We are very fortunate in sowal - all good schools from my experience, and from what I know and hear about.

As I used to say...private school tuition is a form of birth control.

Wow, too bad. Really sort of shocking to me.:shock:
I don't know what we would've done if our only option had been private schools. Our public schools (suburban, not Chicago) are some of the best & most competitive in the nation. One reason we chose to move here. Most of the private schools are slowly being closed down.

 

[Biff]

Thank you MANGY!!!! Well PUT

No where in the Pledge does it say "Christian God". A majority of religions believe in some kind of "God", and almost 90% of our country have some form of religious affiliation, so what's the big deal here.

"Boulder High has a highly diverse population, not all of whom believe in God, or one God," said Emma Martens, a senior and president of the club, which has about a dozen members."

If you're an atheist, then you can believe that this is one nation under you're own power (since in essence they believe they are the "god" of themselves) and if you're a polytheist, pick a God when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

I think the Pledge of Allegiance should be recited. Not necessarily everyday, but it should be in schools as a reminder of what the basic underlying principles of what this country was founded on and a respect for the flag and the people who died protecting our liberties.

If you don't want to recite the portion "One nation, under God", the beauty of living in this country is you don't have to utter that portion.

Walking out of the classroom during the Pledge is childish, and the Pledge the Boulder kids want to recite seems rather ridiculous, not to mention that perhaps instead of spending so much time on this issue, go back and take basic grammer lessons..........

"I pledge allegiance to the flag and my constitutional rights with which it comes. And to the diversity, in which our nation stands, one nation, part of one planet, with liberty, freedom, choice and justice for all."

Part of one planet?

Maybe they should send these kids to some countries where political and religious rights are repressed, do an exchange with youth their age trying desperately to come to this country to experience the liberties they have. AMEN SISTA

I am betting the exchange students would take great pride in reciting the pledge exactly the way it is now.

Sadly, we are dealing with this now at the high school. The play chosen for the drama class has been pulled for "review", since somebody somewhere had a problem with the seance scene and ghosts.:roll: Now the play will go through a faculty review, then to the superintendent. I am fairly that the play will be approved, but not in time for the kids to rehearse and prepare.

I definitely do not enjoy this part of public school. I don't think it is just a public school phenomenon though- you will always have parents that will only see the small picture (what they want for their child only) and not see the big picture.

Sometimes I think that a Christian school would go over big time around here.

;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)


It began as an intensive communing with salient points of our national history, from the Declaration of Independence onwards; with the makings of the Constitution...with the meaning of the Civil War; with the aspiration of the people...


And yes;

The words "under God" were added in 1954 by then President Eisenhower, who stated at the time, "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

 

[scooterbug44]

It's not as simple as just "substituting your God" into the "under God" part or not saying it. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses consider the flag salute to be idolatry. I'd be all for deleting the "under God" part so that you are truly building unity and solidarity by pledging allegiance to a non-religious United States.

I think people (especially school parents) are WAY too overly sensitive and meddlesome (school has their kids for 6-7 hours, they have them the rest of the day and on weekends - plenty of time to teach them opposing viewpoints etc.), but asking people to swear a daily oath of allegiance contrary to their religious beliefs is something truly offensive and worth discussing/fighting.

I think that when I was growing up, my schools did a pretty good job of striking a balance by using basic common sense. When a dad complained that my class celebrated X-mas, but not Hannukah, the school just said they'd celebrate Hannukah too if he provided someone to teach about it - so he sent in his Catholic wife, because he didn't have the time. We had "holiday" concerts, which also included some X-mas favorites. One of our Social Studies classes (although it was pre 9-11) taught us about Islam as part of a unit on understanding other cultures that also included the Kung! bushmen of the Kalahari. No parental complaints.

My non-Christian friend's take on it (after growing up in a predominantly Christian school/area w/ exposure to a variety of religions, she's a Buddhist, w/ Hindu parents):
"God seems like a generic enough term that I feel like only Atheists should find if offensive. I certainly don't. On the other hand, the pledge is part of that group of things that I find dumb because 99% of the time it's totally disingenuous - how often do you think a kid reciting the pledge thinks about what they're saying and what it means rather than just monotonously reciting a bunch of words?"

 

[Biff]

This is one of many reasons why our public school system is going to uniforms; uniformity among adolescents;

• Help prevent gangs from forming on campus
• Encourage discipline
• Help students resist peer pressure to buy trendy clothes
• Help identify intruders in the school
• Diminish economic and social barriers between students
• Increase a sense of belonging and school pride
• Improve attendance

As far as the pledge of Allegiance.....I guess the question at hand would be; Is reciting the Pledge of Allegience a Religious act;

OR

Is it a Patriotic statement of homage to the founding fathers of our Country?


Another reason for me to go private .....

It's not as simple as just "substituting your God" into the "under God" part or not saying it. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses consider the flag salute to be idolatry. I'd be all for deleting the "under God" part so that you are truly building unity and solidarity by pledging allegiance to a non-religious United States.

I think people (especially school parents) are WAY too overly sensitive and meddlesome (school has their kids for 6-7 hours, they have them the rest of the day and on weekends - plenty of time to teach them opposing viewpoints etc.), but asking people to swear a daily oath of allegiance contrary to their religious beliefs is something truly offensive and worth discussing/fighting.

I think that when I was growing up, my schools did a pretty good job of striking a balance by using basic common sense. When a dad complained that my class celebrated X-mas, but not Hannukah, the school just said they'd celebrate Hannukah too if he provided someone to teach about it - so he sent in his Catholic wife, because he didn't have the time. We had "holiday" concerts, which also included some X-mas favorites. One of our Social Studies classes (although it was pre 9-11) taught us about Islam as part of a unit on understanding other cultures that also included the Kung! bushmen of the Kalahari. No parental complaints.

My non-Christian friend's take on it (after growing up in a predominantly Christian school/area w/ exposure to a variety of religions, she's a Buddhist, w/ Hindu parents):
"God seems like a generic enough term that I feel like only Atheists should find if offensive. I certainly don't. On the other hand, the pledge is part of that group of things that I find dumb because 99% of the time it's totally disingenuous - how often do you think a kid reciting the pledge thinks about what they're saying and what it means rather than just monotonously reciting a bunch of words?"

 

[scooterbug44]

Simply take out those 2 words and it's a patriotic statement of solidarity that noone can object to on religious grounds...........it's not like it's the first time the pledge has been changed!

Not sure how school uniforms fits into this, but the arguments listed seem reasonable to me, although in my limited experience, students just then use their accessories for status - jewelry, shoes, etc.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Meanwhile back at the asylum, 50% of the kids can't spell the word 'pledge' and 30% can't identify Colorado on a map. :roll:

 

[Rudyjohn]

school uniforms don't stop gang activity.