Current Events > Americans, did you really have to say a pledge every day in school?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I had to go the pledge all through elementary and high school. Not at universities tho.

---

pojr posted...

Not at universities tho.

Because those are indoctrination centers!1!1!1!1!1!

---

it's obviously a very effective means of brainwashing, as evidenced by this very board's population in its monolithic, unilateral and unwavering support for america

---

yeah, when i was younger my jr high school home room teacher reported me to the principal for refusing to do the pledge

the principal gave me a high five. not even kidding

---

TheOrgyPorgy posted...

yeah, when i was younger my jr high school home room teacher reported me to the principal for refusing to do the pledge

the principal gave me a high five. not even kidding

see it's some serious fucking shit

---

Yeah, in elementary school every morning. I didn't go to middle school, but I know it was present there too.

I can't completely remember doing it in HS - and it seems faint - but like others have said, it could be it was so routinely engrained by that point that it just didn't stand out.

---

Ermac posted...

Two, American pledge and Texas pledge

Yep. Honor the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee and all.

---

Oh look, it's this topic again.

---

i never even learned the texas pledge and i moved here in 8th grade

---

Yep. It'd get broadcast over the intercom every morning, and you had to stand, put your hand over your heart, and repeat it.

I don't recall exactly when that stopped. It was definitely an elementary school thing, never heard it in highschool.

---

Yup. And at times students were disciplined for not doing so. Granted at that time they werent making political statements, they just refused to out of spite for the teacher or because they were too cool to stand, but still. They would get on the loud speaker and the entire school would chant it in unison. Looking back its creepy as fuck tbh.

---

This is so weird


---

Yes. In junior high, one of the assistant principals happened to be in class during the pledge. One student didn't feel like standing up, so he threatened to punish the student.

It's fucking weird.

---

Yup. Good old indoctrination. 100% treated as normal healthy lifestyle for young students.

---

It was part of our morning routine, right next to the school announcements and such. I forget when it stopped, but I'm pretty sure we didn't do it in high school.

---

Im sure we did, but something so minimal and quick really doesnt stay in my head.

Catholic school I went to for a year, we would I think pray in the morning and before lunch. Id just sit there doing nothing. That was weird to me and definitely didnt think it should be included in school.

---

This topic again

---

I did it for elementary and middle school I think. Thinking back on it, it was definitely creepy as fuck.

---

In elementary school. In HS no
---

When I was in grade school we did, never felt like I was given a choice.

---

Just until we got past 5th grade

---

Serious Cat posted...

Through elementary school we did. I dont really remember doing it after that.

Same.

---

Yep. Every single day.

It's really fucking weird having five year olds pledge allegiance to a flag they know nothing about

It's even weirder that we had to pledge allegiance every day, like we somehow broke that allegiance within 24 hours and had to re-up it.

---

https://img.ifunny.co/images/563fc9bc80260c7c893899d9db93d27810233a6b4dd2244e8d94d15da0afef08_1.jpg

---

"wow, north korea sure sounds fucked up. anyway, time to make these 5-year olds pledge their undying allegiance to our country every single morning"

americans

I think in Elementary School we did. I mean, I know I did at some point. But I don't really have a specific memory of doing it. But then again, I think maybe it was just very early Elementary school. I'm pretty sure I'd have a solid memory of this if I had done it in 4th or 5th grade.

---

Yes, but I don't remember doing it past like 4th-6th grade. It was just an annoyance.

---

In grade school we had to. Not in high school tho.

---

we said it, I said it, I don't remember anyone refusing to stand, but there were some I know who didn't say it. not that they were making a political statement for anything; they just thought school was stupid and they were too cool for it, etc. But that was like 25 years ago so who knows what it's like now.

One year when I went to a catholic school for 8th grade we did.

---

I'd say it was more nonsensical than creepy. Not like we did it for any other reason than it being the routine presented to us. About as creepy as saying a prayer before going to bed.

---

They can't really force you to say it but when you live in a conservative part of Indiana and you don't say it people totally look at you weird.

I like being weird.

---

KeeperOfShadows posted...

I'd say it was more nonsensical than creepy. Not like we did it for any other reason than it being the routine presented to us. About as creepy as saying a prayer before going to bed.

You compare it to saying a prayer yet see nothing creepy about comparing nationalism to a religion?

---

RebelElite791 posted...

You compare it to saying a prayer yet see nothing creepy about comparing nationalism to a religion?

For a child who is doing it purely as a routine? Nah. It'd be one thing if we actually meant something by saying the pledge, but we know perfectly well that wasn't the case.

---

Yes. From 1st grade through 6th grade for me. After that, the schools I attended no longer did it. That said, that was enough that I still remember it verbatim 20 years later lol.

---

I remember doing it in elementary school, but not middle or high school.

It's definitely creepy. "Creepy" isn't strong enough.

And it's not like you're given an explanation. It wasn't something I realized I could refuse to do. It wasn't even something I realized anyone might want to refuse to do. As a kid, I didn't really understand what was happening. It was just the next thing on the morning schedule. Therefore, everyone just did it.

Honestly, I think it should be outlawed. It goes against everything the US supposedly stands for. Of course, these days, almost everything that happens in the US goes against what the US supposedly stands for. So the hypocrisy and empty values are right at home.
---

Until high school. I remember it raising some eyebrows if we didn't play along but I can't recall anything bad happening if we didn't.

---

Yeah it was obviously absurd looking back on it. But at the time, it was just another part of the day. I don't remember it at all in middle school. Certainly not in high school at least.

---

Yes all up through end of high school, during morning announcements and occasional big ceremonies like Veteran's Day assemblies or the like.

Elementary school kids we were told the right way to do it and did it slowly/properly. We all complied, never an issue.

Middle school a math teacher did the announcements every day and went through it lightning fast, although he was clear people just started to mumble through it.

By high school people generally didn't give a fuck anymore, I still stood every day and would just mutter it in one jarbled long word while others just stayed totally silent. Teachers were mixed on kids not bothering to stand and so on, most of the younger teachers didn't care but I remember the girls tennis coach in my HS who was a retired teacher/now doing part time subbing duty gave me a huge amount of shit my freshman year because she thought I sat down before it was done.

---

KeeperOfShadows posted...

For a child who is doing it purely as a routine? Nah. It'd be one thing if we actually meant something by saying the pledge, but we know perfectly well that wasn't the case.

Ah yes, words and actions mean nothing, and the pledge was created in a vacuum, not meant to instill any sense of nationalism or loyalty

---

RebelElite791 posted...

Ah yes, words and actions mean nothing, and the pledge was created in a vacuum, not meant to instill any sense of nationalism or loyalty

No, words without explanations mean nothing. We (at least at my school, maybe others were more serious about it) weren't properly taught what the pledge meant, so it didn't mean anything to us when we said it.

Obviously it's meant to instill nationalism and loyalty, but how does it actually accomplish that with someone who doesn't truly comprehend that? You can't indoctrinate someone without actually teaching them the beliefs they're supposed to follow.

---

in Texas they also do the Texas pledge lol.

---

Had to say 2, one to murrica and one to texas
---

In grade school, but it technically wasnt mandatory. There was a kid in my 1st grade class who was Native American, and his parents asked that he not partake.

---

Have to? I loved it.

---

I remember doing it in grade school, but not high school.

---

Yep, every day. I think it's a good thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcwg7cnhW4E

---

Middle school was the only one that didn't make me do that shit

---

misread as Brony Middle School

---