Why Children Should Recite the Pledge of Allegiance

Given the recent discussion about a school in Florida that issued parent waivers for opting out of the Pledge of Allegiance and Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to participate in the National Anthem, it seems timely to discuss the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge shouldn’t be regarded as an empty tradition in our nation’s classrooms. It has a purpose, and there are benefits to teaching students the pledge and requiring them to recite it.

Pledging Allegiance

Reciting the pledge allows students to practice pledging to something other than themselves. It reminds them that there is a cause greater than themselves. If patriotism erodes, then there will be no desire or, at the least, a sense of duty to improve one’s community. Patriotism cannot survive if our nation’s citizens pledge themselves more to their preferences than the well-being of their nation. The “liberty and justice for all” that we enjoy will erode if our children fail to accept responsibility to their nation.

Freedom

We enjoy freedom unlike people from any other nation because patriots abandoned personal preferences and comfort to fight for their nation. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance reminds students of the cause these patriots valued. Some have refused to recite the pledge, but why do they have the freedom to refuse? Is a citizen of a communist country permitted the option of protesting their government? Is a citizen of an Islamist country permitted the freedom to protest Islam? The freedom Americans enjoy cannot be found in most nations.

Whether or not citizens have the freedom to refuse the pledge is not the question. After all, this is a nation that allows freedom of speech whether others agree or disagree. The issue at hand is about respect. Refusing the pledge shows a lack of respect for freedoms that were bought by the blood of patriots. Although one may have the freedom to refuse the pledge (or protest the National Anthem), their protest disrespects the patriots’ sacrifices. If our children don’t learn to value the concept of patriotism and show gratitude for the freedom they enjoy, then freedom will die. Freedom cannot survive if no one is willing to be a patriot. And we can’t expect our children to want to grow up to be patriots if patriotism is no longer valued.

Indivisibility

Although the freedom to protest a particular issue is a benefit Americans have, children need to learn the difference between protesting an issue and protesting America. It’s self-destructing to protest the system (America) that permits one to engage in protests. If our children intend on living in a nation that offers them freedom to improve their community and protest when necessary, they need to learn to pledge allegiance to the nation that permits such flexibility.

We are a pluralistic nation – ethnically, religiously, socioeconomically, and politically, but our indivisibility lies in a belief in freedom that can hardly be found when searching the annals of history. Teaching patriotism to our kids gives us a means to pass the torch of freedom to the next generation and instill a responsibility to be active citizens and protect their own freedoms.

The Value of Study Partners

“What can I do to make better grades?” When answering this often asked question, we first focus on study skills. If you are not already using the help of another person to study, finding a study partner may make a considerable difference. When students have to verbalize their answers to another person, the experience resembles the test taking experience much better than studying alone. The accountability provides a much better test practice scenario, and it gives the student a better assessment of their actual level of preparedness for the test.

Who is the best study partner? For many reasons, mom or dad do the best at getting the job done. You can read about the reasons why in "Why Parents Make the Best Study Partners," but the main reason involves the motivation parents have in making sure their children do well in school. If a parent is not available, siblings and friends can be effective study partners. As long as study partners are advanced enough to read the material and check their partners’ accuracy, they can help.

Study partners have to be responsible enough to thoroughly work together until the content is learned. For example, two students may be quizzing each other with their study guides for a history test. If a student misses a question, the partner needs to repeat the question periodically until it is answered correctly. If partners are helping each other with math problems, they need to be willing to stick with the task until each partner fully understands and works the problems alone. Study partners need to do more than give advise; they need to help each other until problems can be performed independently.

Students of all ages can benefit from partnerships, but younger children may require more instruction and supervision. For instance, third graders may need instructions like, “Quiz each other with multiplication flash cards; switch once someone has answered correctly ten times; both of you must complete six rounds each.” Older students who are already acquainted with rigorous, Christian school academics know how to study for the test, but they may need supervision to make sure time is used wisely.

Partners need to learn how to give clues before simply giving away an answer. They should help each other think of cues and mnemonics to help them remember difficult content. This is how the Guinness World Records holder, Chao Lu, memorized over 67,000 digits of pi. The sillier the association or cue, the better students will remember them.

Research reveals that students who study with a parent outperform those who study alone, but the research also reveals that students who perform the best study with a parent and a peer. Perhaps it’s time to increase your use of study partners.