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I'm one of those Americans who get goose bumps when I hear the national anthem played before a huge stadium crowd. Whenever I hear it while I'm visiting another country, I am also filled with a warm sense of pride.
That's why for me it's baffling to hear about students who refuse to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school. Often, this is done in retaliation of something. A couple of years ago in Arkansas, a ten-year-old did it because he objected to the statement "liberty and justice for all" in the pledge. He believed that gays were not given liberty and justice. Apparently, when his substitute teacher persisted in getting him to stand, the boy said, "With all due respect ma'am, go jump off a bridge."
In another incident, a South Florida student took his issue to the Supreme Court, stating that it was his constitutional right to refuse to do the Pledge of Allegiance. He felt that as a matter of conscience he should be allowed the choice to not stand and not recite it. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
Many teachers grapple with the issue of inspiring patriotism, and some resort to turning a blind eye to the student who won't comply. It's a tenuous battle telling students to stand for thirty seconds, much less getting them to recite the pledge. I remember back as a high school teacher, a student of mine slumped back in his chair, with arms crossed at his waist, as the other students stood and said the pledge. Despite my asking him to stand, he refused. I called his mother later, only to receive defensive comments back like "He isn't hurting anybody" and "It is his right to do that."
Back then in the 1990s, students were automatically given a detention for defiance against a teacher and school policies like this-as was the case for my student. Today, however, it has become a sensitive issue of civil rights. Detention forms aren't readily written up as much.
The concern is whether we should teach (or preach) patriotism to our students. The argument is-that's what other countries, like China, are doing. Earlier this year, Hong Kong education officials announced an initiative to make classes on Chinese patriotism compulsory for school children (AFP, May, 2011). Students are to take 50 hours of lessons per year that focus on building national harmony, identity, and unity among individuals. Banners will be displayed in classrooms; flags will fly all over campuses; and students will stand in respect to their country's pledge and anthem.
Rather than indoctrinated lessons in schools, shouldn't love of country be something that grows naturally?
Perhaps the answer to this comes from looking at the example set by Marisol Guntkowski, a Costa Rican-borne woman. Over several months, I watched in awe her determination to become a U.S. citizen. Marisol was already married to an American. She did not have to go through the naturalization process of the application paperwork, interviews, background check, training, and test-taking to become a U.S. citizen...and yet she did. When asked why, she flashed a bright smile and beamed back a reply that every student should hear-she loved this country.
There were 675,967 individuals from over 150 countries who became U.S. citizens in 2010. Dozens of reasons were given. In a recent HBO Documentary, "Citizen USA: A 50-State Road Trip", people reported they wanted to participate in the elections and vote. Others said they liked having the ability to succeed in life, while others indicated the desire to be part of a country where freedom is for everybody.
I like Marisol Guntkowski's answer the best. For the love of our country, I always stand proudly whenever I recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I hope that our students will learn to capture this in their hearts and do the same.
*Teri Pinney, Consultant & Education Advocate
http://www.professionalwritingconsultant.com/
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