A Kid Friendly Pledge

Michael Szewczyk, a fourth grade teacher at Berkeley Terrace School in Irvington, New Jersey

Each morning, public school students have to stand and salute the flag by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. After my students complete the Pledge in its standard form, we repeat it in a kid friendly style that is more understandable and meaningful for them. The following is the student version that we created together. I promise my faithfulness to the banner of the United States of America and to our government, for which it stands, one country under God, for which we will stick together, and freedom and fairness for all. http://www.nea.org/tools/tips/A-Kid-Friendly-Pledge.html

Some comments:

This really turns my stomach. This teacher should be fired immediately.I agree that she should teach the Pledge and not alter it. The education of our youth is a great responsibility, that one should not take lightly.

Are you serious?? You’re a teacher?? Teacher of what, ignorance? The fact that you changed the words to mean that you pledge to the government instead of our flag which stands for something we’re trying to hold on to is insulting. It’s obvious you got your teaching degree out of a Cracker Jack box!

You rewrote the meaning of the pledge. Do you seriously not see the difference between pledging allegiance to the Republic and pledging to the government? Teach the pledge and explain what it means. Teach!

Students should be taught the meaning (and spelling) of the words in the pledge, not be asked to speak a dumbed down version. That’s an unqualified teacher in a NJ school for you.