I got kicked out of class, but not for misbehaving...

[Maxy24]

In our school you do not have to stand, most people do but most don't say it, they just stand up and put their right hand over their heart. The kid in front of me in homeroom does not because he believes in communism, that's his belief and no one needs to tell him he has to respect and pretend to believe in a government he does not (although I must say the kids creeps me out).

 

[Dekka]

Personally i would stand as a sign of respect. (LOL I love my country and will sing the anthem even tho I am probably annoying the person next to me ) I am sure you can find something worthy of standing for.

But I do have a bit of an issue with the assumption that you should respect the pledge because if you were anywhere else you would be so worse off. MANY countries are wonderful places where you don't get dragged off if you disagree with the government. After all the threads on police abuse of power I kinda got a bad taste in my mouth over these comments. I think my country is the best place to live (as I am sure that many of you think the same of your home country) but I would never assume that most other nations would be horrible and use that as the 'boogieman' to scare people into behavior.

 

[Lilavati]

Actually, you should respect the pledge for a totally different reason: because its polite. Because there are other people around you engaging, what is supposed to be, anyway, a solemn pledge. Unless you have a specific religious restriction, it is simply polite to stand and respect your fellows, and the country in which you are living. It doesn't even mean you approve. Its just polite.

 

[bubbatd]

School is to learn ...and this includes respect . I was an American brought up in Canada , but still respected O Canada and God save our King . Please folks ...leave the word Retarded out !

 

[borzoimom]

I agree with HBH. YOu openly defied an authority figure and that is likely why you were sent out.

STanding for the national anthem or for the pledge to me (not being american but always standing in school for the Canadian anthem and NOW as an adult in public places standing for the US anthem) is a show of respect. Not just for the country but for those who fought to give you the RIGHT to listen to that music or say that pledge or even give you the right to stand or not.

either way it's a show of respect. If you don't want to show respect for the anthem or pledge you should at least show respect for the authority figure asking you to do so.

IMO

I agree Sparks. Being of a military type family, even the honor of the anthem of another country, out of respect I would stand if in that country.

 

[corgi_love]

I don't care whether you say the words or not, but you need to stand up and show a little respect for a country where you aren't hauled out of your home and beaten in the middle of the night by government agents, where your dad doesn't mysteriously "disappear" because he disagrees with government policy, where countless Americans have fought and died to give you those freedoms.

You just can't be bothered to stand up? Get over it. Be a rebel somewhere else.

Agreed.

And in the first private school I went to:
if you weren't looking at the teacher, acting like you weren't listening, made a noise, talk, didn't raise your hand- you got yelled at and kicked out of class. If you even dared to disrespect the teacher by talking back like you did, you'd be kicked out and not let back in- ever.

You were completely rude, and I think that is extremely immature to talk back to your teacher, let alone refuse do something asked of you. Yeah, grow up.

 

[sparks19]

I agree with everyone else.

if I were in another country (which I am actually) I would ALWAYS stand for their anthem. Even if I were in China... I may not agree with their government policies but I am on their land and I will respect their anthem or their pledge along with everyone else. I don't have to recite it... just simply RESPECT it and WHERE it came from and WHY even if I don't agree.

People are just so petty. "I don't believe in God so I shouldn't have to stand up" Well I don't believe in Gods that other religions have... but you bet your a$$ I will stand up for a pledge with everyone else. I don't have to believe it or even like it but I will stand out of respect. it's not about the WORDS... if you don't like the words don't say them. but get your a$$ out of your chair and show some respect.

When you go to a sporting event between two countries and they play both anthems... ever notice that everyone stands for BOTH? The canadians don't sit out the american anthem and the americans don't sit out the Canadian anthem. it's about RESPECT.

RESPECT.... something too many people are lacking these days unfortunately.

And like Eddie said... get up and stretch. it's good for you.

 

[Lilavati]

An amendment: There ARE reasons to refuse to do something your teacher asks . . . if the request is illegal, immoral, dangerous, or actually, in itself, against your religious beliefs. There are religions that would, I believe, frown on standing for the pledge. I don't get the impression that you belong to one of them, however. But disobeying for the sake of disobeying, or simply to make some sort of point that is not part of our core beliefs, that's disruptive and obnoxious. You don't have to do everything your teacher tells you, but you do have to comply with reasonable requests . . . and standing for the pledge is a reasonable enough request.

 

[Boemy]

The kid in front of me in homeroom does not because he believes in communism

You know what's funny about that?

The pledge of allegiance was written by a socialist. Ahaha!

 

[sparks19]

An amendment: There ARE reasons to refuse to do something your teacher asks . . . if the request is illegal, immoral, dangerous, or actually, in itself, against your religious beliefs. There are religions that would, I believe, frown on standing for the pledge. I don't get the impression that you belong to one of them, however. But disobeying for the sake of disobeying, or simply to make some sort of point that is not part of our core beliefs, that's disruptive and obnoxious. You don't have to do everything your teacher tells you, but you do have to comply with reasonable requests . . . and standing for the pledge is a reasonable enough request.

Oh I do agree with that.

Sometimes there are just things you shouldn't do. But I think in a case like that it is not up to the CHILD to give the teacher a hard time. it is up to the parents to write a note or talk to the teachers about it and requesting that their child not participate in something.

And I know... parents don't come to your rescue when you start working... but by then you are an adult and you don't confront your boss and start an issue right in the middle of your workplace. YOu quietly ask to speak to them and go into their office and explain your predicament. most bosses will be understanding if you can't do one task because of religious reasons or personal reasons... as long as it's not just because you don't WANT to and you approach them in a respectful manner and talk about it.

Flat out defying your boss will get you fired. and IMO it is not the students place to defy the teacher in front of the whole class. there are opportunities to talk with that teacher in private or have your parents talk with the teacher.

 

[Sweet72947]

Agreed.

And in the first private school I went to:
if you weren't looking at the teacher, acting like you weren't listening, made a noise, talk, didn't raise your hand- you got yelled at and kicked out of class. If you even dared to disrespect the teacher by talking back like you did, you'd be kicked out and not let back in- ever.

Wow, I guess I woulda been kicked out of your school. I have ADD, and even now at 26 years old I have difficulty paying attention to things for a long period of time. I even get bored watching TV. Even on the internet I'm going from one thing to the next very quickly. I was also very shy and hated raising my hand for anything.

As for the pledge, in elementary school and middle school we said it. In high school we all just stood up and put our hand over our hearts and looked bored.

 

[sparks19]

LOL I always liked that they played the national anthem and then had a moment of silence... it gave an extra few minutes before we HAD to start school work lol.

 

[ACooper]

As for the pledge, in elementary school and middle school we said it. In high school we all just stood up and put our hand over our hearts and looked bored

That is how it is here in our town Sweet

At our elementary, (K-5) the kids get to take turns going down to the office and being the "leader" as in saying the pledge over the loud speaker for the rest of the school to follow. My kids ALWAYS loved it when it was their turn!!

And do you know how cute it is to hear a teeny tiny kindergarten student leading the pledge? IT IS ADORABLE!

 

[noludoru]

I had my handbook with me that has the school rules and there was no rule that stated it was required to stand for the pledge and that you could be punished for it and as far as I know there is no law requiring it either.

Well. It was clearly her rule. Now that you can probably contest with the principal if you really have a problem with it, but don't expect it to go anywhere.

At mine there is a rule that you MUST stand for the pledge. You don't have to say it, or even all of it, but you MUST stand. I do not stand sometimes - mornigns are bad for me, and I've collapsed during the pledge before trying to stand and being too dizzy to do so so quickly, but I had a lenient teacher who understood and didn't yell at me if I wasn't feeling well enough to stand. Subs, on the other hand? I've actually had them accost me after the bell for first period rings DEMANDING TO KNOW why I didn't stand and that they are going to "report me for it.." All this when I'm pale, shaking, and haven't even looked up at them because I was so sick. For some reason we only had subs on days I wasn't feeling well. Ugh. Thankfully a few friends stepped in and told them I had health issues.

 

[noludoru]

And do you know how cute it is to hear a teeny tiny kindergarten student leading the pledge? IT IS ADORABLE!

AWW! I wanna hear that.

 

[Romy]

Isn't kicking you out of class for something that's not against the rules or openly disruptive, against your right to a free education?

I mean, I'm patriotic and all and would like if my children showed respect for the pledge and whatnot, but if a their teacher took it upon themselves to discipline them for not doing something that should be an individual choice, when they were not disrupting class....and that punishment involved removing them from a classroom environment, you can bet I'd kick someone's butt.

 

[bubbatd]

You learn things when doing the Pledge . Daughter was in 1st grade and I asked her to set the table ....knife and spoons on the right , forks on the left . . She started to mouth the Pledge and put her right hand over her heart .... yup , the Pledge confirmed the right from the left .

 

[sparks19]

Isn't kicking you out of class for something that's not against the rules or openly disruptive, against your right to a free education?

I mean, I'm patriotic and all and would like if my children showed respect for the pledge and whatnot, but if a their teacher took it upon themselves to discipline them for not doing something that should be an individual choice, when they were not disrupting class....and that punishment involved removing them from a classroom environment, you can bet I'd kick someone's butt.

removing a student from class for 45 minutes? I hardly think that is against ones right to a free education. If that were the case then students could never be suspended, expelled or even sent to the principals office.

The fact is that the teacher asked him to do something and he flat out refused. There were better ways for him to handle the situation. Instead he was just being defiant... which in a way IS a disruption and if not handled sends the message that the students don't have to do what the teachers says as long as they are quiet. He made his choice to sit ... we are free to choose what we want but we must also be aware that there may be consequences to your choice. After he suffered his consequences he should have either set up a time to talk to that teacher about why he doesn't want to stand or have his parents arrange a meeting or send a note for the teacher stating it. There are ways to handle things other than out right defiance... and if you choose to go against what you are being asked then you need to be prepared to take the consequences and then sit down and talk about it with the teacher later.

 

[sparks19]

You learn things when doing the Pledge . Daughter was in 1st grade and I asked her to set the table ....knife and spoons on the right , forks on the left . . She started to mouth the Pledge and put her right hand over her heart .... yup , the Pledge confirmed the right from the left .

Dang... maybe that's why I always had trouble (still do from time to time) with my left and right. No pledge of allegiance to refer to. Knowing me I would probably be holding the wrong hand over my heart lol.

that's very cute.

 

[eddieq]

Dang... maybe that's why I always had trouble (still do from time to time) with my left and right. No pledge of allegiance to refer to. Knowing me I would probably be holding the wrong hand over my heart lol.

that's very cute.

I can help a little, Sparks. Make the "OK" sign with both hands out in front of you (pinkies facing away from you). The left hand will have a lower case "b" and the right hand will be a lower case "d". B is for bread - the bread plate is on your left. D is for Drink, your water cup is on the right.