Sitting for the pledge

By Ria Sanghera, Youth Writer

The second period bell blares and everyone scurries to their seats as the announcements
begin to roll in. They state, “Please stand for the pledge,” and it is then I realize no one is
standing.

At Liberty High School, nearly every day before regular announcements, the pledge is read
and students stand, hand-over-heart, toward the flag until the “you may be seated”
message is called.

Even from the verbiage of announcements, it is more of a polite command than a question
to stand for the pledge. I have had past experiences of teachers relegating students' essays
if they didn’t stand to describe their reason for not doing so. Thereby eliminating the
choice of action as associated with the pledge. Though, I wonder if it is a choice at all.

The pledge of allegiance is something I’ve memorized ever since moving in sixth grade. but
something I have never fully understood. From muttering gibberish to actually knowing the
words, I saw the pledge as a norm and so followed, and still do. But, the decline has me
questioning: why?

“I stand for the pledge, I have family in the military and I want to respect those who have
fought for our country,” Austin Fox, a senior and student in my second period answered.

From the informal poll I took it was evident that those who did stand had a) similar reasons
for doing so–out of a believed respect for the military and/or country and b) were proud of
this reason for standing.

“A majority of my family served so I think it’s respectful to stand,” Dyllon Bentsen, a senior
added.

The personal connection to the military is then a primary motivator but even those without
direct family can sympathize with soldiers’ sacrifices.

“I stand to honor our country and those who risked their lives to keep us safe,” Isabella
Doria, senior, specified.

From the class of 30, all 10 responses were consistent with this belief. The fact that not a
single response said no though can not be considered a reflection that people do not stand.
Sitting for the pledge
By Ria Sanghera, Youth Writer
Personally, from the front of the class I always assumed everyone stood but as I moved to
the back, I saw whole tables seated. The primary reasons for not responding is likely fear of
being the only one to say no on the paper or to be ostracized for their beliefs. Also, perhaps
embarrassment or a lack of opinion for the matter.

Whatever the reason, the trend is interesting to witness as it shapes the beliefs of youth
especially evident as friends share in passing that they are too lazy to stand, don’t want to,
or dislike the country but do not wish for these opinions to be traced to them.

A solution for such controversy I believe is to tell students why the pledge exists, its origins
(including being created by a self-proclaimed socialist), their rights, what it stands for (in
both positive and negative respects), and then to let them make informed decisions for
their own participation.

I believe if no one is infringing another’s rights there is no harm but I think it important for
my class to be informed so that they are led to make their own decisions in school and
educated to continue critical thinking and personal agency far beyond high school, too.