...involves daily recitation of the Pledge and the singing of patriotic songs.
...means not being allowed to use the playground equipment, and instead having to play variations of tag (helicopter tag, freeze tag, other forms of tag that I don't know about) with the entire class. Every day. (I suppose I should be grateful that it isn't dodgeball.)
...apparently means doing the same homework every day, and boring homework, at that. (I am not kidding.)
...is therefore so frighteningly close to my own experiences in elementary school OVER THIRTY YEARS AGO that I am a bit put off.
I will keep you posted.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
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10 comments:
Do you not like it that he has to say the pledge?
Oh, god. I wouldn't go back to elementary school for anything.
I am appalled that they HAVE to play only one game. Why in the name of all that is good and holy can't they encourage imaginative play and/or use of the play ground equipment???
Oh yeah one other thing...saying the pledge is pretty standard but I am sure you know that if you object to this you can "opt out" just by telling the teacher you don't wish to have your Bean participate. It's your right.
Danielle - No, I don't like the pledge, and I don't like teaching kids to say it.
Andi - I am hoping that maybe she was trying to get the kids in the class to get to know each other by playing one big game, or something... and yes, I know that Bean doesn't have to recite the pledge (thanks for pointing this out - I appreciate it!), but since he doesn't mind it (and probably likes it), I'm going to let it go for the time being. I don't want my activism to cause problems for him, esp. when he doesn't understand what this is all about.
I went to public school from K to 10th grade, and in none of those grades did they ever break down the Pledge and explain what it's about. WTF?
Is the playground equiptment only for kindergarteners or something?
First grade sounds lame. My sympathies to your Bean.
If I were you, I'd talk to the teacher about not making him say it.
Danielle,
The thing is, it's my issue right now, and since he hasn't had that critical moment yet of wondering what it is and why he's doing it, he's just happy to do it. If I go in and say something to the teacher, I don't know what the result will be, and how that might affect Bean. So it doesn't seem worth it at the moment. When he's a little older and he is ready to decide if he wants to be different in that way, then I'll say something if it's still an issue.
Sally,
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