Wow, it's been ages since I last said the pledge of allegiance, let alone was "encouraged" to do so every day in class...I think the last time was in Catholic school during the 3rd grade?
Anywho, good for this little man! It's nice to know that the next generation is already standing up for each other's rights.

Back when I was in high school, the pledge was held in 1st period. Some teachers did not require it, but it would have looked unusual not to stand up for/look like you are saying the pledge. I would rather have slept on than stood up.

I am glad that the people in the article don't appear too vehement about this issue. The pledge is only important when you mean it, but most people don't anymore because its done every day and because it interrupts the early morning nap.

sounds like someone is teaching him whats right and wrong before he gets to school. this makes me proud!

I think the pledge is like prayer. You can't just go through the motions with it. Reciting words you don't believe in just because you're pressured to do so devalues both the words and yourself.


Good for this kid for taking a stand.

Aww it looks like Mommie and Daddie have been feeding him information on how to be unruly.

Glad he feels comfortable enough to stand up for what he believes in. But, I wonder if he truly knows what he believes in or if his parents have fed him information on how to disrupt the class.

He can't really be considered a troublemaker. He has a reason for his actions that fall under the First Amendment. I think it's a valid and admirable stance.

Yes, he was wrong to "mouth off" to the teacher, and his parents punished him for that, but stand behind him in his decision. He is a remarkable young man!

When I was in the 8th grade, I was the ONLY kid who WOULD say the oath. At that time, pride and patriotism meant something more than just pretty flags, and I stood up for my country.

I agree with this boy's stance today, though. There isn't liberty and justice for all, only for those who can afford it, or those who are just like the ones in charge.

It's my understanding that the kid didn't disrupt the class by refusing to pledge... but by talking back to the teacher after they kept trying to get him to say it. I don't really understand what you're trying to say here... is standing up for gay rights really considered being 'unruly' where you come from? And is educating your children that all people are equal, really considered 'feeding them information on how to be unruly'?
This kid, and his family, seem like fantastic people to me.

Where I come from, talking back to the teacher is disrupting class.

The kid is 10 years old. 10 year olds don't think for themselves...especially when it comes to politics. They parrot what their parents say. My 14 year old brother still parrots what my parents say. My 19 year old sister still parrots what my parents say, though not to the degree of my younger brother. Regardless, most people do no think for themselves when they're adults, let alone when they are 10 years old. This is shown by the fact that his mother does not say the pledge.

I completely agree that too many people aren't afforded the rights that should be given to all. However, refusing to say the pledge in class accomplishes nothing. The only thing it does is bring attention to him.

I think the parents are right on with what they are teaching him on the subject of gay rights. But he went about it the wrong way.

So you're trying to say that his parents 'fed him information on how to disrupt the class', by telling him to talk back to the teacher? My point was, the kid got in trouble not for refusing to pledge, but for talking back to the teacher about it.

I believe this, to an extent. You only have to look at religion for a perfect example. But I don't really see the relevance to this article. Sure, the boys parents have obviously raised him to be supportive of gay rights. I think that's a fantastic thing... America needs more parents like them. But did they tell him to go and 'disrupt' the class? I doubt it, but I suppose you can find anything you want to find when you read between the lines.

And yet... his Father does? Enlighten me, what does this show?

From what I've read of your comments guy, so do you. And I think you seriously underestimate the passion, free thinking and ability to independently think that a LOT of kids have. Generally the parroting of parents is done by kids raised in a household where free-thinking and independent thought hasn't been encouraged or nurtured.

Especially in highly religious households is this true in my experience.

And by extension, brings attention to the issue. So it kind of did accomplish something, didn't it? Standing up for what you believe in is never pointless, even if it doesn't accomplish anything.

Now that that's out of the way, though, this was pretty much a nonstory, wasn't it? No one at the school district really had a problem with him not saying the pledge. He was only reprimanded for talking back to the teacher. The parents agree with the reprimand, the school district agrees with him choosing not to say the pledge.... what's the big deal?

You think I parrot my parents? I've actually been told that I'm too libertarian for them. They don't like the fact that I'm pro-gay marriage, anti-death penalty, anti-income tax, anti-welfare, pro-assisted suicide, and pro-drug legalization. I do not parrot my parents' thinking, and I have not for a long time. Just because I'm ultra-conservative/libertarian does not mean that I parrot my parents. Don't assume, ok?

A child at the age of 10 years old does not have the mental capacity to form his or her own political opinions. In fact, a child doesn't begin to see the humor in sarcasm until the age of ten (source). My point is that the child, though his motives may be pure, has been fed information from the parents. A 10 year old has to be told to do this. And he was. His mom does not say the pledge, because there is no "liberty and justice for all" in this country. And why does the boy not say the pledge? There is no "liberty and justice for all" in this country. I'd even put money on the fact that he couldn't even define liberty...or maybe even justice. Everything he said came straight from his parents' mouth.

I do commend him for the fact that he feels comfortable enough to not say it, and that he isn't pressured by his peers to do something that he may feel is wrong. But his feelings come directly from his parents, not his own free thinking.

lol, I made an observation, not an assumption but whatever guy.

I know even mentioning voting down is frowned upon here but it's kind of a pissy move to vote down someone who's a lowly level like myself when you've got pretty high levelage right there.

It's not keeping me awake or anything, just thought it was a bit of a d**k move simply becasue you don't agree with my comment

It was an assumption that I parrot my parent's thinking. The downvote came from that comment, not because I disagree with what you said. I never downvote because I disagree. Ever.

I downvote when people are rude, mean, or make disparaging comments towards anyone. Or just being a jerk. Your comments fell under the "rude mean, or disparaging comments" category, and thus you received a downvote for me. (Basically my downvotes come when ad hominem attacks are used).

I heartily disagree. If a child of any age is given access to information, be it political or not, they ARE going to form their own opinions. The key is providing information on both sides and stepping back a letting them work it out.

But, but you said most kids parrot their parents opinions, you even said your siblings do it too. I made the observation that it seems you do that too. Was it disparaging, rude or mean when you said it too? Shall I vote down your comment too?

It's okay for you to say it about your own siblings and children in general but it's worthy of voting down and is "rude, disparaging and mean" when i say it about you? Double standards there guy.

Well, someone had an issue with him not saying it...his teacher, right? And the boy was continually pushed to recite this optional pledge to the point of being disobedient. To me, that's a little surprising because I didn't think people cared that much these days. So, this story was news to me and I thought I'd share it. Apparently it led to some interesting discussion as well....

Let me check... 18 comments. No, I would say that this was a good post. Whether it is a "non-story" or not it resulted in a conversation which is good.

I beg to differ. At 10 I had different view points from my parents, and many of those haven't changed. At 16 I stopped eating meat because I felt it was wrong, and after doing my own research I discovered it was (contrary to what my parents said) a perfectly healthy diet.

I disagreed with my parents completly on most political issues because I believed in fairness not forcing your beliefs on others. Just because your siblings parrot opinions doesn't mean every child does. I didn't really get into politics until highschool, but even before then I was certainly able to form my own opinions contrary to what my parents taught me. To assume another kid cannot do this is insulting.

1. Do not act condescendingly to me. That is rude.

2. You made the observation that my comments must be because I parrot my parent's opinions. I was observing. You were assuming that my obviously ignorant comments were because of this.