By Scott Smyers and Dave Lunger
When the COVID pandemic resulted in remote learning, it made sense that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance was not the highest priority. For years, the elementary and Junior High recited the Pledge every day, but the High School restricted their recitation to once per week (Monday morning). As many students, parents and teachers know, teaching unbiased American history and discussing the values of patriotism post COVID with the rise of Black Lives Matter became an appalling low priority.
For example, after students were allowed back to class, some administrators and teachers leading student clubs like Educators Committed to Anti-Racism, Equity, and Social Justice (ECARES) encouraged students to protest against the Colonial Mascot and walk out of class to celebrate any and all causes related to George Floyd and Black Lives Matter. Meanwhile, less attention was focused on reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or maintaining American Flags in each classroom (as mandated by state law).
In November of 2023, a few patriotic students quantified the number of classrooms with American Flags in the high school and parents and local citizens wrote to the School Committee revealing this information and the relevant Massachusetts laws, thankfully the School Committee and Superintendent worked rapidly and attempted to bring the school back into compliance. This is a huge win for those of us who have been pointing out the decline of the public schools, but don’t expect this decision to cascade and expand to provide more patriotic topics in the curriculum.
After nearly four years (approximately 970 school days) with no opportunity for students to be at least a little patriotic or develop their patriotism, on February 12, 2024, students at the High School were provided the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Furthermore, it is unclear how long the high school had been NOT reciting the Pledge before COVID. Some former students claim the Pledge was not recited for years in the high school even before the COVID shutdown.
Starting on Monday, February 26, the students at the high school were given the opportunity to recite the Pledge every day! This shows that sometimes the administrators and School Committee will correct course when there is a clearly written law backed with threatening fines. However, what about the intangible costs? Imagine a student not saying the pledge and one of their peers says, “I have to say the Pledge or my grandfather would disown me.” Or a student could make a case as to why the USA is terrible. In either case, this could lead to an important conversation and even some emotional bonding.
This is yet another example of how some AB school administrators, school committee members and teachers (not all) are deliberately destroying values that have historically bound our families, community and country together. Why are the Divide, Extort & Impugn (DEI) bullies against patriotism? We don’t really know, but they are free to move to another country.
When Americans are divided, we are weaker. If you think the crisis of recruitment in the US military is lacking now, just wait a few more years after the misguided, manipulative maniacs who made these decisions in Acton and across the country gain even more power and authority to corrupt young minds.
As counterintuitive as it may seem to voters that don’t really know what’s going on in the schools, voting against the Override is the ONLY option if you want to save OUR schools. The Administrators and School Committee are clearly fearmongering and threatening that their only options are to cut the teachers that are most cherished and valued. But if the override blows up in their face, there are other options (like cutting Administrators, Assistant Principals, all DEI bullies, major structural changes, etc.). Voting against the override is the only chance we have to force certain people to resign (or be fired) and start over again focusing on educational topics we can unite behind, not anti-education, social justice initiatives that divide us.
I think pitting Diversity Equity and Inclusion against Patriotism creates a false choice. It is possible to be supportive of both. What makes America great is that it is a melting pot that over centuries has opened up to welcome people of different cultures and backgrounds and that it protects the freedoms of of speech and religion. In that respect, I think DEI and patriotism are actually complementary.
And I think supporting our public schools is important to develop young minds that will lead our country in the future.
Ok, I’m old, but we always recited the Pledge every morning. It was ingrained in me and I grew to appreciate what it all meant. I later enlisted in the Navy between my Jr and Sr years of HS. I went on active duty upon graduation. My Dad and Uncles all served, so there was a lot of family support. I think the pledge had a role to play to help me understand that supporting our country is a key aspect of citizenship. We seem to be lacking that these days. It’s sad to see it go.
The recent demonstrations on campuses of major universities and high schools supporting “governments” that are no more than terrorist organizations points out that our young people are very misguided in their understanding of what’s going on in the world.
They would not even be permitted to demonstrate in the countries they purport to support in their demonstrations here. I hope they wake up. And soon.
Martin,
I think you have misunderstood my position on free speech. I do not believe in the American concept of unrestricted free speech and never have. This is not a secret. In a civilized society there should be limits to stop extremism. I am against forced speech too. It seems that is something you support.
I won’t be complaining about the flag being left out in the rain. Frankly, I find it very odd that it needs to be protected from the elements. The national anthem talks about a flag being flown in the height of battle. That’s how it should be.The nations flag flying proudly and steadfastly in the face of all elements. Taking flags down because it’s raining seems to symbolize weakness to me. However, I’m sure there are other who hold different opinions which is why I mentioned it.
Very well-researched, Scott. Thank you for your advocacy of us Acton taxpayers, and patriotism. James Conboy.
I am a veteran, and wear a Marine Corps medallion on my lapel. I don’t support saying the Pledge of Allegiance as a mandatory effort. I can’t think of a democracy in a developd country that reqires or suggests the reading of a Pledge to anything. “Taking the Pledge every day or week or month, in my opinion, degrades its power and value. My wife, who recently died after 55 years of marriage, was from a smaller village in Wales. As is expecyed by many, she was conservative but never complained about taxes. How taxes were spent was a different matter. She wondered why citizen of the US had to say the Pledge anytime. She lived through WW II, and had the scars and nightmares to prove it. She worked hard in the fight for Welsh independents. Wales was her home, where her heart lived. She never believed taking a pledge would change her values. As for people joining the military, were is the value or motivation? There is no draft. There are places to die evading bullets and bombs but no place where we are fighting for US values. Remember, even for WW II we had a draft. I believe the average US citizen wanted nothing to do with another European war. Hell, that is wnat a lot of people ran from. History strongly suggests when a country reachges a point of real power and freedom it becomes more and more necessary to build an army from mecenaries. If your life isn’t bad enough to choose between it and being shot or bombed, why volunteer? Where are the incentives? The Vietnnam vets came home to cries of Baby Killers. not because of the uglines that comes with ALL WARS, but because, in my opinion, they didn’t want to be go to Vietnam. I marched in lots of efforts against our involvement in Vietnam. I met very few, if any people, who said the “Pledge” or truly respected the flag of the US except for some of the Vets.
Very sorry for your loss, Mr. Williams.
Please note that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is not required of any student. What is required under Massachusetts law is “Each teacher at the commencement of the first class of each day in all grades in all public schools shall lead the class in a group recitation of the ”Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag”, as well as displaying the US flag in every classroom.
Same thing with MCAS — the schools are required administer the test, but the students are not required to take it. (Except for 10th grade, for now.)
What in the Heil Hitler is this nonsense?!
Great article, and I appreciate those that came forward to point out the missing flags as well as the lack of recitation of the pledge. We are truly living in sad times, when American Flags are somehow considered controversial. My kids will proudly recite the pledge. As the grandsons of a Vietnam Veteran they know the pledge is something to be recited loudly and proudly. We were raised this way, to respect the Flag and all those that fought for it. I fear those not standing are being raised to have disdain for this great country of ours. It may not be perfect , but I will take the land of the free and the home of the brave any day.
Thanks to those students and adults who worked to bring US flags and the Pledge of Allegiance back to all of our classrooms. Aside from the fact that it is required under state law, bringing this tradition back to the classroom will hopefully reestablish some continuity among generations, something this school committee and administration has made clear they care nothing about.
The law you cited goes on to say:
“Failure for a period of five consecutive days by the principal or teacher in charge of a school equipped as aforesaid to display the flag as above required, or failure for a period of two consecutive weeks by a teacher to salute the flag and recite said pledge as aforesaid, or to cause the pupils under his charge so to do, shall be punished for every such period by a fine of not more than five dollars. Failure of the committee to equip a school as herein provided shall subject the members thereof to a like penalty.”
Punishing a teacher for not saying the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ is unconstitutional. West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette 1943. The law was unconstitutional when it was passed.
If you want to reestablish the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance go ahead. But don’t rely on a law that violates teachers First Amendment rights.
BTW. What about the flag outside the school. Isn’t that supposed to be brought inside when it’s raining? That’s not happening either!
Jeremy,
The holding in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, applies to just students and not to teachers. To date the Supreme Court has yet to render a decision regarding the legality of requiring school teachers to recite the pledge of allegiance. Lower courts have been split on this issue. Presently, 46 states have laws requiring the recitation of the pledge of allegiance in public schools.
It’s also ironic that you are now a defender of free speech given your history of attempting to silence those who you disagree with.
Additionally, I think you have made a good point regarding the School District’s violation of the flag code. In fact the same law you cited also states, “A flag shall be displayed, weather permitting, on the school building or grounds on every school day and on every legal holiday or day proclaimed by the governor or the President of the United States for especial observance; provided, that on stormy school days, it shall be displayed inside the building.” As you were the one who identified this issue, do you intend to notify Peter Light and the School Committee of this potential legal infraction?