Reciting the "Pledge of Allegiance" is a standard day-opener for school children. However, by about sixth grade that practice has discontinued in many schools. Now, Michigan wants to make the Pledge of Allegiance required recitation for grades K-12, via a bill currently in the state's senate. Some legislators are pushing it, but the bill is meeting with opposition for various reasons. Here are details about that debate.
Kahn's pro-American push
Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) has been on a campaign to boost patriotism, by backing various pro-American legislative actions in Michigan's senate. Kahn's latest move is to get passage on SB 637. The bill, which was approved in Michigan's senate today, has two provisions: that all Michigan students in grades kindergarten through high school recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily and that school be forced to purchase a flag for every classroom in their building.
Why supporters want the bill
Michigan is one of seven not to have a bill mandating daily recitation of the pledge. In many schools, the Pledge of Allegiance is a daily routine, but most schools stop doing it after grade 4-5. Bill proponent Kahn says he's proud to say the Pledge of Allegiance and that kids shouldn't be ashamed to either. Other supporters say the pledge boost morale and unites Americans. Still other see it as a civic duty.
Why some oppose the "Pledge of Allegiance" bill
Some parents believe that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in school is unnecessary, that it interferes with vital teaching time. Other opponents say the Pledge of Allegiance is akin to prayer, particularly with the "under God" phrase, which in not allowed in schools. Forcing a child to recite a pledge of any kind, may violate civil liberties, critics say. The bill, as written, has a clause which allows parents to remove their children from participation. Few will likely take advantage of that as most children don't wish to be embarrassed as the only one not participating.
Questions of bill precedence
The biggest contention with SB 367, say opponents like Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) is that it's a waste of legislator time and taxpayer money. Currently, Michigan has an 11.1 percent unemployment rate. Saginaw, Mich., Sen. Kahn's home district has 16.6 percent unemployment. This puts Michigan in the third place for highest unemployment. The median income in Michigan is $45,000 compared to $50,000 in the U.S. 16.1 percent of Michigan residents fall below the poverty level, compared to 14.3 percent nationwide. Several Michigan cities, like Detroit and Benton Harbor have been put under Emergency Manager control, which is the equivalent of financial Marshall Law. Several more, like Flint, Mich., will receive an EM, if they can't prove financial viability. These issues, opponents say, should be the focus of legislative effort.
Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes about people, places, events and issues in her home state of "Pure Michigan."
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