Opinion

Banning the pledge

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Related stories:

• Pledge protection undermines court (September 30, 2004)
• To what do we Pledge Allegiance? (March 13, 2003)
• To what do we pledge allegiance? (March 13, 2003)
• Letters to the editor (October 21, 2001)
• Election Day merits campus attention (November 6, 2006)

Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:

• The Invisible Man Award: Wyndham Manning (May 7, 2009)
• The People's Choice Award: Jacqueline Hitchon et. al (May 7, 2009)
• The Lifetime Achievement Award: ASM (May 7, 2009)
• Honest representation (May 5, 2009)
• Junger for ASM Chair (May 5, 2009)

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At last Monday’s meeting, the Madison school board banned the Pledge of Allegiance in Madison public schools when a small number of parents objected for religious and/or political reasons.

The school board exhibited the (then) typical Madison politically correct knee-jerk response, ignoring the wishes of the vast majority of the population; within 14 hours, the school board had received 426 phone calls and emails, 422 of which opposed the new policy. Apparently school board officials forgot they were elected to represent their constituents. Fortunately, the board will reconsider its decision tonight.

Still, we wonder if the school board is so out of touch that they will not even know what they are discussing. After all, while attempting to adhere to the new policy, one Madison elementary school played the Chinese national anthem. They claimed it was a mistake, but the gaffe puts to rest the idea the pledge will not have any educational benefit.

We don’t think every child should be forced to recite the pledge, but it’s ridiculous the school board feels every child should be forced not to.

On Monday, October 15, the editorial was updated to reflect the version printed in Monday’s paper.