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Opinion editorials Handling of Pit Appeal Calls for a Time-Out |
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opinion editorialsThis editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Pledge Better Schools
New Mexico has a 56 percent graduation rate — just better than half of ninth-graders make it out with a diploma. Yet among the top concerns of the state Public Education Department is ensuring students don't feel pressured to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
How about taking a pledge to improve education results instead?
Department spokeswoman Beverly Friedman says individual districts already allow kids to opt out of reciting. Albuquerque Public Schools made that clear in recent years by intervening after two students were told to recite on demand.
The department's general counsel says he suggested the amendment to PED rules to get them in line with a 1943 Supreme Court ruling that schoolchildren can opt out of reciting the pledge for religious reasons.
It's admirable to want to streamline. But the pledge isn't any more religious than “In God We Trust” is on our cash. Besides, when it's questionable if many of your students can even read the Pledge or spell allegiance, it's time to prioritize.
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