Nonbelievers, what to do with a kindergarten child and the Pledge of Allegiance?

I am an atheist myself. I know what you mean about "the majority not caring if they ruin it for us" I cringe every time I sneeze and people say "god bless you"

BUT. I do not get my children involved in this discussion UNLESS they come to me for advise.

Life is hard enough for school children these days. They are bullied, teased, pigeon-holed labeled, and it doesn't help THEM if they have parents who make a particular "difference" obvious.

The values you teach at home will be the ones which last. Your child may grow up to be a televangelist but he will keep your values. Atheism is not a value, it is an individual held belief, and everyone is free (in this country) to establish their own beliefs. Be a good parent and give your child Rumspringa. (a time of experiencing the other side of your argument) then if he wants to fight this stupidity when he is 12, back him up.

Most Kindergartners have no conception of what the words to the pledge mean.

No child is forced to say the pledge and the government isn't 'pressuring' anyone or anything.

You can instruct him to drop the words 'under God' if they offend you, or he can stand quietly and respectfully through the whole pledge, (just as you would do during, say, the singing of another nation's national anthem at a sporting event), or you can not worry about it.

EDIT: If you feel the teacher is 'pressuring' him, try a quiet word with the teacher. Tell him that while your son can and should stand with the other children, he doesn't have to say the pledge (or any specific words within it) if he isn't comfortable with it. I can't imagine any teacher having a problem with this.

EDIT#2: It is true that I am not a nonbeliever dealing with issues surrounding the PoA. I AM a Jew who, throughout my childhood dealt with (and dealt with for my own school-aged child) Christmas concerts and craft projects making Christmas tree ornaments and religious songs in choir and art appreciation classes where we looked at and discussed Madonna and Childs. I am now an adult who works in a workplace where Christmas trees and tinsel decorate the office for 6 weeks out of every year.

As a child I didn't sing songs that made me uncomfortable. (I either hummed along or listened quietly.) I made art projects that could be hung in a window rather than on a tree. I dealt with it in a way that allowed me to be comfortable with my own beliefs and didn't make a huge fuss.

I feel your pain, I'm an atheist and I wouldn't want my child to say it either. I don't have to face that problem though, I live in Poland. There are greater issues though, this is a 98% catholic country, much more religious than the US.

I lived in the US for a very long time, I have a problem with the fact that a country that was founded by fathers who did not encourage religion, is now such a crazy religious christian country.

I can only suggest this, but raise your child to be a free thinker, always encourage your child to ask many questions, don't pressure any religion or non religion on her/him, and teach him not to bend over to the rules of the government and teachers,

From the youngest age, they put this thing in the kids brains, walking in lines, thinking alike, standing straight up with your hand on your heart, resiting the same thing everyday...hey, I just remembered, I think the Germans did the same...hm, around 1930's-1940's? For the idiots, I'm talking about Nazis. As for the kindergarten, don't tell him not to recite it, you know kids that age always look for the tiniest thing to pick on.

It's pathetic, I know, standing up and resiting the pledge every morning, emphasis the UNDER GOD. It's annoying and unnecessary, but what are you going to do?

My children started school while my husband was still active duty military. As a result, they attended a Department of Defense school where all their classmates were dependents of Army soldiers. The pledge was a given. While not all students were Christian, all of them recited the pledge without an argument. Parents who had reservations with reciting "under God" were given the option of teaching their children that they did not have to repeat that portion.

Do I have a problem with anyone pressuring my child to recite the pledge as an oath to our government? Obviously not as I wholeheartedly supported my husband through his military career and over five years of deployments. I believe in our country and the principals it was founded on. If I didn't, the experiences I have as a result of my husband's military experience have taught me that I do have the right to choose another country to pledge allegiance towards. It also taught me that I am proud to be an American even with all our faults and weaknesses.

So, now that I am stepping down off my soap box, if you have an issue with the "under God" portion, talk to your child's teacher and let them know that your child will be reciting the pledge without saying that part. After all, "under God" is not even part of the original pledge. It was added in 1954 during the McCarthy era. (I've included a link and, while it is a religious site, it contains an informative history of the pledge.

My junior high school aged daughter has begun questioning religion -- how can one group of people be right to the exclusion of all others and why can't we just agree that it is a higher power no matter how we chose to worship? She had issue with the "under God" phrase and was obnoxious enough to ask if she could substitute "Rah" or some other Egyptian, Greek or Roman God. I asked her if she would please just drop the phrase and continue to pledge her allegiance to the country. Even if she chooses to believe her way, she still owes respect to the country that allows her to have the freedom to be a skeptic. She politely refrains from the phrase on the days she remembers that she is disputing it's inclusion. No one has ever said anything.

I believe that the pledge is perfectly fine but for those that don't want to say "one nation under god" just don't say it. It's not a requirement that you actually say it anyway. However show some respect for your country and at least stand and put your hand over your heart while the pledge is being recited by those around you.

EDIT: Okay so you didn't have a question as to what anyone thought about this you just wanted to rant and make a statement. So noted. I thank you for your service. End of discussion for me.

I'm a Christian, but...

I'd ask your child what she would like to do. Explain that she does not have to say this, but she can if she wants to (at least that's the approach we've always taken with our children - let them decide for themselves and our oldest is now an atheist). At this age you want her to do what makes her most comfortable, I'd think.

If she decides she doesn't want to say it, talk to her teacher and tell her you and your daughter have decided she will not be saying the pledge. I'd tell your daughter she still needs to either sit or stand and be silent while others are saying it (the teacher should tell you if she would like her to sit or stand).

How about you let him be exposed to ALL races/religions/opinions when he is growing and developing, and then he can make his OWN decisions when he is old enough to do so.

EDIT* If at some point he is uncomfortable with saying that, I'm sure he will learn to mumble through it instead of recite the words.... or simply not say anything at all. You don't need to MAKE your child avoid the word god at all costs so he will believe the same things you do.

EDIT 2* I would be more offended by the fact that they are asking children to pledge to America, than I would be that it mentions God. Our country is terrible, we should be ashamed of ourselves... not waving our flags yelling "Hooo-RAH!" Gross.

EDIT: Do I believe? Yes. Would I EVER force my child to go to church? Never. Would I ever force my child to pray? Not a chance. Would I ever force my child to use any religious terminology? NOPE! I am more concerned with her being a good person than who or WHAT she believe in! If she thought the grass and the trees were her god, fine... as long as she is being a good person I could care less. So as much as you hate to be generalized.. "believers" do too. ;)

OKAY: Well, here is my ANSWER to your question:

Although, I am not an Atheist, so can not relate on that level, I don't however agree with the whole "Christmas/Santa" thing. In my opinion it's a bunch of parents teaching their children that lying is okay (don't mean to offend any Santa supporters... just saying..) SO when there were Santa related activities at her daycare I explained to her that although Santa is NOT real... and other kids may think he is, it's just fine for her to participate, just let the kids believe what they believe, as it is not her place to inform them that Santa is a fictional character. Did she bring home Santa pictures? YES! Did it offend me? No! There is no reason to single your child out, let them believe in peace... don't make them cause a scene. It's as if you are asking to draw attention to your beliefs.. there is no need for that.

Well, what is the variations among youngsters announcing the Pledge of Allegiance in colleges and kids announcing "two + two = four"? Remember, colleges are there to coach, adding the loyalty to the nation that took them as residents and visitors. Sure small children could now not completely comprehend the meanings now, but if they are grownup that they are able to made up their possess minds. Unless of direction you feel that youngsters should not be unswerving to the nation that took them as residents and visitors, plus that "two + two = five".

As silly as this objection may possibly sound, that is what some individuals have really mentioned in opposition to the newest court ruling! But hold into account the facts. once the terms really have been so trivial or meaningless, then the removing of individuals terms by means of the Pledge of Allegiance would be also trivial or meaningless. The simple fact that critics within of the court choice view the choice as significant obviously exhibits how the terms are not trivial or meaningless. (Why bother finding so upset greater than a little something that is trivial or meaningless?) In fact, even although I don't converse for theists, I would need to believe that loads of theists would find out it offensive to look at that God is "trivial, meaningless, and even a content-free catch phrase." As John Leo writes within of a latest editorial, "To religious conservatives, 'under God' is identified getting a vital symbol, the last religious reference left within of the universities ... ."[1]

Furthermore, the legislative history within of the Pledge of Allegiance refutes the declare how the terms "under God" are trivial or meaningless. Congress and President Eisenhower each viewed as the terms astonishingly crucial once they additional the terms in 1954:

The wish was to "acknowledge the dependence of our individuals and our federal government upon ... the Creator ... [and] deny the atheistic and materialistic idea of communism." In signing the expenses on June 14, 1954, Flag Day, Eisenhower delighted within of the simple fact that from then on, "millions of our schoolchildren will day-to-day proclaim in every sole neighborhood and neighborhood ... the commitment of our country and our individuals toward the Almighty."[2]

The legislative history within of the 1954 alter also refutes the declare how the words, "'under God' may possibly merely recognize the historical simple fact that our country was believed to possess been founded 'under God.'" The modified Pledge of Allegiance was not intended to merely create a historical claim. Rather, it absolutely was developed to distinguish "God-fearing Americans" from "Godless communists."

However, in spite within of the above points, the courts will most very likely reverse the ruling, inside the schedule with this objection, for political reasons. But pro-First Amendment individuals can hold pride within of the simple fact that this objection could be one of the most advantageous the opposition can can be found up with.

When I first learned the Pledge of Allegiance, the wording "under god" was not included. It was added in the mid-1950s as a purely political statement against the "godless" communists of the Soviet Union and Red China.

Even as a first or second grader at the time that it was added, I understood what was going on and have never incorporated it into the Pledge of Allegiance myself.