Symbols of Freedom

Topic: Why We Should Say the Pledge of Allegiance 



Is there an American flag in your classroom? Do you recite and understand the Pledge of Allegiance? If you said “No” to either of those questions, I beg you to read on. How can we be a truly great county if we don’t understand and respect these symbols of freedom? If you read on I will highlight the history, purpose and why we need to gain a better understanding of the flag of the United States of America and the Pledge of Allegiance ~ and hopefully spark your desire for greater patriotism.



Do you know the true history of the flag? It was rumored that Betsy Ross made the first flag of the United States but there is no proof of this. Historians believe that Francis Hopkinson, who signed the Declaration of Independence, is the actual designer of the first American flag. Each color in the flag has its own significant meaning. Red represents the valor that has been shown by our citizens over the years allowing our country to stay strong. White stands for the purity and innocence. Perseverance and justice are represented by the blue. While the flag has changed several times, six to be exact, over the years the flag we know today was actually the result of a school project done by Robert Heft. Our current flag has fifty stars, one for each state, and the 13 red and white stripes to represent the original 13 colonies.



Do you know how the Pledge of Allegiance came about, most people don’t but read on and you will find out. In 1888, James Bailey Upham, felt it was important to unite the country again after the Civil War and he thought that the best way to do this was to start with schoolchildren. His goal was to get people to show their patriotism and rediscover a love for their country. He started the “Flag over the Schoolhouse” program and by 1891 more that 25,000 schools had an American flag. As a result of Upham knowing that schools would celebrate the 400th  anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival to North American he came up with the idea of having all the schools celebrate in the same way. In September of 1892 the “Official Programme” for the “National Columbus Public School Celebration” was published in The Youth’s Companion. After the flag was raised they were to recite a pledge written by Francis Bellamy: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands - one nation, indivisible - with liberty and justice for all.” This pledge has been changed three times since then to give us the pledge we have today.



Now that you know a little more about history of the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance, I believe it is easier to see their significance. When you see the American flag flying high, it should bring you a sense of unity and accomplishment. People all over the world recognize our flag as a symbol of freedom. When we recite the pledge it is a way for us to show our respect and patriotism.

I really don’t think that kids today really respect the flag of the United States of America or the Pledge of Allegiance. As a twelve year old growing up in the midwest it is my opinion that kids really don’t have an understanding or appreciation for the flag and pledge. I feel that most of my peers take the freedoms that are represented by the flag and the pledge for granted. I don’t think people find it “cool” to show their patriotism anymore. For a period of time after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 people came together and had a sense of unity as a nation for the first time in a long time. They freely gave of themselves to help their neighbors, they would salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the national anthem and flags flew over most homes and businesses. Ten years later, I think, we have lost that sense of pride and unity because we have forgotten that day and how our freedoms were threatened. As Senator Tony Fulton put it, “The next time there’s a sports game - football game, basketball game, baseball game or whatever and the “Star Spangled Banner”, the national anthem gets played, pay attention. Now you have to have respect for the flag and you have to be facing the flag and whatnot but I think it’s still possible at the same time to pay attention to what other people are doing. And you watch . . . most kids 18 and younger don’t have their hand over their heart.” Why is this something that we find acceptable?



Were you aware that that there is no law in Nebraska that says students have to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day? This will hopefully change, in January of 2012, Senator Tony Fulton of Lincoln (my senator) will be introducing legislation that would require all Nebraska public schools to have the flags of the United States of America and Nebraska displayed in every classroom. It would also require the teacher to lead the class in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. If this legislation passes, Nebraska would not be the only state to require the reciting of the pledge, there are 46 states that currently require it. While this has been challenged in other states Senator Fulton feels that his bill is constitutional because it doesn’t require the students to recite the pledge - it requires the teacher to lead the recitation of it. I guess you could say that Senator Fulton is following in the steps of James Upham and starting with schoolchildren. According to a Rasmussen Report in 2008 seventy-seven percent (77%) of United Sates voters thought that school children should say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. The same survey also reported that eighty-two percent (82%) felt that the contested words “under God” should remain - - it is these words that have led some people to challenge the constitutionality of requiring the pledge to be said because of the separation of church and state. The survey also reported that only 67% of Democrats thought students should recite the pledge daily while 91% or Republicans and 75% of unaffiliated voters felt that way.



To be honest, before I did this report I would respect the flag but I would only recite the pledge because we were told to but now I plan to educate my friends and push for curriculum about the flag and the pledge in Lincoln Public Schools. I support Senator Fulton’s proposed legislation and feel that it is a start in the right direction. I feel that the history and the meaning of the flag of the United States of American and the Pledge of Allegiance are very important things for not only students but for all Americans to know. I had to disagree with Senator Fulton on the need for curriculum addressing these issues. He didn’t see the need to add a curriculum requirement to his bill because he thought it could already be addressed in the civics requirements. This may be true but I think that we should start learning about our flag and the pledge in elementary school. What is the point in reciting a pledge or saluting a flag when you don’t know the meaning behind it?



Now do you think it’s a good idea to put an American flag in every classroom? I do. After reading this, does the Pledge of Allegiance have a new and different meaning for you? I consider myself to be very patriotic, yet I didn’t know a lot of this until I did this report. I think we need a curriculum in our schools on the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance so that we can start learning and understanding these symbols of freedom at a younger age. I would strongly encourage everyone of us to support Senator Fulton’s proposed legislation . . . I know he has my support! If we don’t teach our youth the meaning, importance and significance of the flag of the United States of America and the Pledge of Allegiance how can we expect them to be patriotic citizens and defend the freedoms that they represent?

 

 

 

 

Sources

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“Criticism of the Pledge of Allegiance.” Wikipedia.org. N.p., 25 Oct. 2011. Web. 6 Dec. 2011.

Hess, Debra. The American Flag. New York: Benchemark Books, 2004. Print.

Landau, Elaine. The American Flag. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print.



Martin Jr, Bill, and Michael Sampson. I Pledge Allegiance. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2002. Print.



“Pledging a Fight: Court Ruling on Pledge Incites Debate.” Current Events, a Weekly
Reader Publication 6 Sept. 2002: 1-4. Kids InfoBits. Web. 30 Nov. 2011.

See, Baer J.W. “Pledge of Allegiance.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. 2000. Kids InfoBits.
Web. 28 Nov. 2011.



“77% Say Children Should Say The Pledge of Allegiance.” Rassmussen Reports.com.
N.p., 28 Nov. 2008. Web. 14 Dec. 2011.



Smith, Whitney. “Pledge of Allegiance.” World Book. 2011. World Book Student. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.

Sonneborn, Liz. The Pledge of Allegiance. Philadelphia: Chelsa House Publishers, 2004. Print.