With little or no insurance for poor kids, failing inner city infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, overworked and underpaid teachers and scary school violence continuing throughout Texas schools, the state legislature decided today to make a change…to the Texas pledge of allegiance.
Texas students will have four more words to remember when they head back to class this month and begin reciting the state’s pledge of allegiance.
This year’s Legislature added the phrase “one state under God” to the pledge, which is part of a required morning ritual in Texas public schools along with the pledge to the U.S. flag and a moment of silence.
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, who sponsored the bill, said it had always bothered her that God was omitted in the state’s pledge.
“Personally, I felt like the Texas pledge had a big old hole in it, and it occurred to me, ‘You know what? We need to fix that,’ ” said Riddle, R-Tomball. “Our Texas pledge is perfectly OK like it is with the exception of acknowledging that just as we are one nation under God, we are one state under God as well.”
By law, students who object to saying the pledge or making the reference to God can bring a written note from home excusing them from participating.
You know what though? I could care LESS about any of the political or religious ramifications. What bugs me is that kids don’t give a shit about ANY of it. It’s hard enough for teachers to get kids to pay attention in class, but they have to get them through two pledges and a moment of silence. Now, they get to say “under God” and I’m sure it will make a HUGE difference to kids.
Whatever.
Why do adults act so ridiculous sometimes? You think if a kid gives a pledge and says “under God” that somehow he’s going to be a better kid or work harder or go to church? Kids don’t care. I recited the damn pledge from kindergarten through high school and I don’t remember any of it. Yet, I love my state. I even pushed to get my band’s new CD named after the words on the original Texas flag. I can promise you the pledge had nothing to do with it.
Hey, state reps, you wanna waste some time in the legislature and make kids happy, come up with a new holiday that gives them a day off from school or extend the summer or Christmas vacation. Want to make them smarter? Reduce class sizes and get rid of the HOURS they have to spend learning how to take the TASK.. Want to make it easer on teachers? Give them a raise and provide them adequate school supplies. Want to give parents a break? Reduce health insurance costs.
I know this kind of stuff sounds CRAZY and that putting God in the pledge seems like the perfect solution to all of our educational problems, but trust me on this one.
I just love you Jeff. I can’t wait to hear the chorus of “why did they change it?” when I get back.
Holy crap, this is insane. At least our representatives aren’t narrow-minded and self-serving.
In case anyone would like to email Debbie Riddle and let her know how you feel about this, here is a way to contact her:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=150&rep=debbie.riddle
I’m even toying with the idea of just sending a link to this blog entry.
Exactly, anyone that was involved in this decision is *definitely* a ridiculous adult. What a waste.
“I know this kind of stuff sounds CRAZY and that putting God in the pledge seems like the perfect solution to all of our educational problems, but trust me on this one.”
Correct. Let’s give ‘em condoms at recess and watch the test scores rise.
It’s not about actually doing God’s work, it just about alluding to it. Mad props to the Texas legislature. They should be proud.
“I recited the damn pledge from kindergarten through high school and I don’t remember any of it. Yet, I love my state.”
I wonder if saying the pledge every day for 13 years had anything to do with you loving your state?
I seriously doubt it. I love my state IN SPITE of things like that. The same goes for my country, my city, my neighborhood, etc. There’s good and bad in all of it.