I had the same experience teaching in a middle school in northern New Mexico where 95 percent of the students were not white. Your perceptions are right on.
Retired teacher in 2014! I wished you had written this in 2010! 😩. Because I would asked my students to at least stand for the pledge. One student even called me profusely patriotic. Of course, I thought, it was a compliment. Her tone said otherwise. Now, well in 2016-Colin Kaepenick taught me, I would not ask anyone to stand. But it was too late for my students. I as already retired. 😭
Your article is spot on. When I read something, I wished I could have written, it makes me feel so appreciative for the person who could.
Even today, I wish I could join Colin Kaepenick by taking a knee. Thank you for this beautiful article. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Yes. I volunteered at an “F” school here in AZ, providing enrichment (pottery) for excelling students (all girls, all Hispanic) and those kids were smart and savvy. They are all in college now. Contrary to the public perception that immigrant parents don’t care or encourage their kids in school, those girls’ parents were very focused on their success and supported them in their academics. They are our future.
This reminds me of my best friend, he is an educator in middle school. He has to stick his nose out of politics to save himself a heartache constantly. He said the kids are his only hope for a bright future. They’re generous and open minded even “the bad ones”. Really all they need is a little extra attention. A lot of teachers fail these students too and they don’t all believe the state is failing public school either. I’m glad he isn’t one of them. 🫶 giving your kids all the resources and showing up as your kindest and most thoughtful self does wonders for the next generation. They’re our future. Thanks for reminding us.
I am German by passport, also ex-teacher and I spent half a year in a German Immersion School in Milwaukee. As a German I am very sensitive to totalitarianism so I had a strong reaction every morning.
Observing the pledge of allegiance daily was deeply confusing for me. To me it felt completely like brainwashing young vulnerable souls into obedience to the government whatever it will decide instead of allegiance to deeper truths.
Even if your government would represent all its citizens why would it need them to recite their loyalty every morning? For me pledge of allegiance only discourages possible dissent and tries to create a herd of sheep.
It was a gift to read this. You voice what I’ve been struggling to cohesively feel, far less give voice to. My son is one of those brown kids. I can’t walk his path with him, but I can educate myself about where it may lead him, and be a safe place for him to land. Always. So long as there is breath in my lungs with which to scream in advocacy for him. For all of our children, including that mini-MAGA boy. He deserves better parenting. Thank you for sharing this.
I used to teach in a school that made it mandatory for everyone to stand for the pledge of allegiance, and I knew most of my students hated it, so I started very quietly adding a question mark at the end of "liberty and justice for all (?)", with a very strong upward inflection. So they heard me. And slowly but surely, they started adding their own upward inflections at the end of the pledge of allegiance. It was a beautiful moment of collective defiance, and they also knew they had an ally in the faculty. ✊🏼
I work in a mostly white but mixed school. It’s the exception to the rule when someone stands for the pledge of allegiance, it’s mostly the older staff who might do it. Of course the ROTC kids and the ones with boots & mullets stand, but in general it might just be pervasive amongst this generation.
This is interesting. I never recited the pledge in the 1980s in Western Washington as a white kid (it felt brainwashy and I was godless). I didn’t get in trouble, but they asked me to stand out of respect for others. I wonder if some public schools don’t do the pledge anymore at all?
I had the same experience teaching in a middle school in northern New Mexico where 95 percent of the students were not white. Your perceptions are right on.
Retired teacher in 2014! I wished you had written this in 2010! 😩. Because I would asked my students to at least stand for the pledge. One student even called me profusely patriotic. Of course, I thought, it was a compliment. Her tone said otherwise. Now, well in 2016-Colin Kaepenick taught me, I would not ask anyone to stand. But it was too late for my students. I as already retired. 😭
Your article is spot on. When I read something, I wished I could have written, it makes me feel so appreciative for the person who could.
Even today, I wish I could join Colin Kaepenick by taking a knee. Thank you for this beautiful article. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Yes! Thank you so much, that made my day! Adelante!
Yes. I volunteered at an “F” school here in AZ, providing enrichment (pottery) for excelling students (all girls, all Hispanic) and those kids were smart and savvy. They are all in college now. Contrary to the public perception that immigrant parents don’t care or encourage their kids in school, those girls’ parents were very focused on their success and supported them in their academics. They are our future.
PS, what a great article, thank you!
I am heartened to hear that the brain washing isn’t going as well as I envisioned
Another superb piece from you Alisa. Shared. You are officially on my short list of favorite writers on Substack.
This reminds me of my best friend, he is an educator in middle school. He has to stick his nose out of politics to save himself a heartache constantly. He said the kids are his only hope for a bright future. They’re generous and open minded even “the bad ones”. Really all they need is a little extra attention. A lot of teachers fail these students too and they don’t all believe the state is failing public school either. I’m glad he isn’t one of them. 🫶 giving your kids all the resources and showing up as your kindest and most thoughtful self does wonders for the next generation. They’re our future. Thanks for reminding us.
I loved every word of this Alisa. Thank you.
Hey that was me - bilingual student with immigrant parents. In the 2000's, everyone stood, it's interesting knowing how things have changed.
I am German by passport, also ex-teacher and I spent half a year in a German Immersion School in Milwaukee. As a German I am very sensitive to totalitarianism so I had a strong reaction every morning.
Observing the pledge of allegiance daily was deeply confusing for me. To me it felt completely like brainwashing young vulnerable souls into obedience to the government whatever it will decide instead of allegiance to deeper truths.
Even if your government would represent all its citizens why would it need them to recite their loyalty every morning? For me pledge of allegiance only discourages possible dissent and tries to create a herd of sheep.
It was a gift to read this. You voice what I’ve been struggling to cohesively feel, far less give voice to. My son is one of those brown kids. I can’t walk his path with him, but I can educate myself about where it may lead him, and be a safe place for him to land. Always. So long as there is breath in my lungs with which to scream in advocacy for him. For all of our children, including that mini-MAGA boy. He deserves better parenting. Thank you for sharing this.
I used to teach in a school that made it mandatory for everyone to stand for the pledge of allegiance, and I knew most of my students hated it, so I started very quietly adding a question mark at the end of "liberty and justice for all (?)", with a very strong upward inflection. So they heard me. And slowly but surely, they started adding their own upward inflections at the end of the pledge of allegiance. It was a beautiful moment of collective defiance, and they also knew they had an ally in the faculty. ✊🏼
I work in a mostly white but mixed school. It’s the exception to the rule when someone stands for the pledge of allegiance, it’s mostly the older staff who might do it. Of course the ROTC kids and the ones with boots & mullets stand, but in general it might just be pervasive amongst this generation.
This is interesting. I never recited the pledge in the 1980s in Western Washington as a white kid (it felt brainwashy and I was godless). I didn’t get in trouble, but they asked me to stand out of respect for others. I wonder if some public schools don’t do the pledge anymore at all?
The picture you shared seems exactly what you experienced. Did you take this picture or is it AI? My god AI is scary good.