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

[Durbkat]

So for some reason I have very rarely stood up for the pledge of allegiance in the morning and none of my teachers have ever had a problem with it. But for some reason my orchestra teacher keeps pushing it on me that I need to stand but she laughs when she says it so I can tell she is just joking with me. Well one of my new teachers started yelling at me and one of the other students for not standing and she sent us into the hall for the first 45 min of class today. 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. So is there some law I am unaware of that a person can be punished for not standing for the pledge or was my teacher just being a pain in the butt?

Also please don't give me the pro-america monologue about how I am not an american or don't believe in my country because I have done been told by my teacher and my grandma.

 

[PWCorgi]

I don't think it's required. There was a teacher in my middle school who physically forced a kid to stand for it, drug him up by his collar.

Out of curiosity, why don't you stand?

 

[GipsyQueen]

Even in Elementary school I didn't have to stand. I refused to stand, because I'm not American. No teacher EVER punished me. If they tried, I put on the puppy eyes and told them, that not being American I refused to say, 'one nation under god' because it wasn't the only nation under god. (I really did say that when I was 10.) I STILL know the pledge. I only had to say it four years... at my private school we were pretty diverse, so that only about 2 people in class were actually american and no one else wanted to say it. lol

 

[HoundedByHounds]

there may not be a rule saying you have to stand for the pledge...however there is probably a rule about following the directives of a person in authority. THAT is likely what got you sent out. If you have an issue the adult thing to do is address it outside of class with a talk to the teacher about your reasons and your discomfort with standing. Include the Principal if you feel you will be blown off.

That is how I would handle it...not by simply openly defying an authority figure in full view of my peers,a nd thus undermining the autority of said figure.

 

[youhavenoidea]

I don't know, as I'm in Canada, but the worst you'd get when I was in school for not standing for the national anthem, was a dirty look.

I never stood for the prayer either. And given that it was a Catholic school, THAT one actually went over worse. LOL

 

[sparks19]

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

 

[jess2416]

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

Agreed

 

[Boemy]

I disagree, "disobeying an authority figure" is not a legitimate reason to be punished. If it were, then students would get into trouble every time they disagreed with a teacher, ever, and never have any recourse because that defense is the equivalent of "Because anything I say goes." If there's no rule that says you need to stand, then the teacher is in the wrong.

 

[GlassOnion]

Yah he shouldn't be forced to stand.

I think he should (or she, whomever, just generic he) personally but it shouldn't be forced on him. It is a free nation after all.

It is somewhat ironic not to stand and recognize the people who gave you that right to begin with, but all the same it shouldn't be forced.

 

[Richie12345]

I usually don't stand unless the teacher asks the class to. I've had teachers give me lectures about how un-American I am to not stand. Your new teacher was probably trying to show off (can't think of the right word) her power so students won't try to goof off in her class. Technically, you don't have to stand for the pledge of allegiance but if you want to get through school easy with little to no trouble at all you should just stand and make your teacher happy.

 

[Island dog]

Out of curiosity, why don't you stand?

That's what I was wondering too.

 

[CanadianK9]

When I was in highschool they actually had a rule about disagreeing with any teacher, staff, or administration or person of any stature above you, they called it "Objection to authority" I cant even count how many kids got needlessly punished for it or even suspended/expelled for it, I can understand them punishing a big legitimate arguement, but it was always the dumb things they pulled it on you for, like his situation. I remember once not agreeing with a suspension I once got and they suspended me foe 3 more days just cause I didnt agree with their reasoning. If ya ask me schools are really actually going a bit to extremes with some stuff.

 

[mrose_s]

I was one of the kids that hardly ever sang the anthem, I don't like our anthem. I would sing "We are Australian" because its makes me "feel" Australian, the anthem has no emotional connection to me though.

I do remember standing there and having teachers walking around sticking their head nears kids faces to hear if they were actually singing or only mouthing the words.

 

[Snip]

I disagree, "disobeying an authority figure" is not a legitimate reason to be punished. If it were, then students would get into trouble every time they disagreed with a teacher, ever, and never have any recourse because that defense is the equivalent of "Because anything I say goes." If there's no rule that says you need to stand, then the teacher is in the wrong.

Well, once finished school, depending on your workplace, if you disagree with the boss when told something to do, be prepared to be disciplined or simply fired. Unless it is something that is unsafe for you to do, legally you can't refuse work orders in most situations.

I'm Canadian, not American, but we enjoy a lot of the same freedom and privileges that you do. I'd never dream of disrespecting the thousand's of soldiers that have died for my freedoms by ignoring common courtesy's such as standing for anthems, the pledge of allegiance, whatever. I also have a lot less respect for individuals that take those rights and freedoms for granted.

 

[Puckstop31]

What.... In the hell is wrong with you kids?

Don't you have respect for anything anymore? I mean, other than your Xbox?


Grow up. Ya wanna be treated like and adult? ACT like one.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

So for some reason I have very rarely stood up for the pledge of allegiance in the morning and none of my teachers have ever had a problem with it. But for some reason my orchestra teacher keeps pushing it on me that I need to stand but she laughs when she says it so I can tell she is just joking with me. Well one of my new teachers started yelling at me and one of the other students for not standing and she sent us into the hall for the first 45 min of class today. 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. So is there some law I am unaware of that a person can be punished for not standing for the pledge or was my teacher just being a pain in the butt?

Also please don't give me the pro-america monologue about how I am not an american or don't believe in my country because I have done been told by my teacher and my grandma.

It does not matter what you believe in.

Your teacher is in a position of authority. If you are told to stand and you refuse, then you need your @$$ kicked.

I am with Puckstop 100%. Rules are rules. If you can't follow them you will have trouble all your life. If you make the decision NOT to follow the rules, then quit whining and take the consequences like a man.

 

[Lilavati]

I think it depends on why you aren't standing. If its a nationality thing (you aren't an American) or a religious thing then you probably have grounds not to, and a reason to complain. Though most of the people I know with those issues stand out of respect, but don't say the pledge. My advice: stand, and if you don't want to pledge, don't say anything. Its polite to stand, even if you have a reason not to basically take an oath. And it will make your life easier too.

 

[mom2dogs]

What.... In the hell is wrong with you kids?

Don't you have respect for anything anymore? I mean, other than your Xbox?


Grow up. Ya wanna be treated like and adult? ACT like one.

It does not matter what you believe in.

Your teacher is in a position of authority. If you are told to stand and you refuse, then you need your @$$ kicked.

I am with Puckstop 100%. Rules are rules. If you can't follow them you will have trouble all your life. If you make the decision NOT to follow the rules, then quit whining and take the consequences like a man.

:hail::hail:

 

[ACooper]

What.... In the hell is wrong with you kids?

Don't you have respect for anything anymore? I mean, other than your Xbox?


Grow up. Ya wanna be treated like and adult? ACT like one.

It does not matter what you believe in.

Your teacher is in a position of authority. If you are told to stand and you refuse, then you need your @$$ kicked.

I am with Puckstop 100%. Rules are rules. If you can't follow them you will have trouble all your life. If you make the decision NOT to follow the rules, then quit whining and take the consequences like a man.

I gotta agree here too. If you don't want to pledge your allegiance to the country...........then DON'T, but if the person in authority tells you to stand then you d@mn well better stand.

I get sick and tired of seeing lawsuits and whining over this kind of crap

 

[Kela]

You shouldn't have been forced to stand if you didn't choose to. Asking to stand in all other situations, you should have to obey, but in this case I think the teacher crossed the line. The pledge is becoming a more and more controversial subject and I don't think the teacher has a right to demand the kids stand any more than she does to change the curriculum on evolutionism/creationism to fit her beliefs.

I would arrange a parent teacher meeting if talking to the principal doesn't solve it. More and more kids are being raised in such a way that they don't feel they should be saying the pledge or going on with it. Separation of church and state and all.

*edit* Also, if the punishment was to send you out into the hall for 45 minutes, thats just ridiculous. Of what benefit is there to missing nearly an entire class? I know I'd sure love that kind of punishment for certain classes, lol.