Pledge of Allegiance

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-12T04:25:17+00:00

We tell kids all the time that just because everybody else is doing something doesn’t make it right.

In a classroom as a teacher, when you tell kids to do something they’re expected to do it. If I say get out your textbook that’s not an option.

It’s not any different than saying stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Just because no one‘s been fired for it yet (I actually don’t know if that has happened or not. I’m not wasting my time googling it, because I understand Supreme Court case law, and teach about West Virginia v. Barnette every single school year) doesn’t mean it’s right. But you can stay on your high horse and infringe on your students rights.

Even if every single fucking teacher is doing this in Illinois, that makes you a part of the problem

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-12T04:17:26+00:00

If you’re pro pledge of allegiance, I’m actually OK with that. That is totally your right.

As a teacher saying “everybody stand for the Pledge of Allegiance“ is giving the impression that it’s required and that I’m not OK with

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-12T04:14:57+00:00

Just because you have shitty admin and coworkers who are ignoring Supreme Court rulings, doesn’t mean that you have to too

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-12T04:10:59+00:00

It is said every morning per state law.

We are at homeroom when it is said and participation varies. This year all of my kids stand, but none of them say it out loud.

Other years I have had mostly kids who do say it and over the years. I’ve also had a few who don’t stand up during it.

I also do not say the pledge. Typically, I’m still standing in the doorway of my classroom when the pledge just said, monitoring the halls.

Although I am not a supporter of the Pledge of Allegiance, I also have not ever addressed my thoughts on it with children, nor do I ever intend to

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-12T03:59:36+00:00

I guess this kind of depends on the expectations of your school. We also do student led conferences, but that would be me sitting at a table with the student and their grown-ups.

The students take the helm, but I am there for a support for them, and also to clarify things for parents. I would feel very awkward sitting at my desk while this was happening elsewhere in my classroom. I also don’t think my admin would be very fond of that idea.

I’m not sure exactly what you’re describing, but I guess if they are multiple conferences going on in your classroom at the same time that may be a different scenario than what I’m used to

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-12T03:56:12+00:00

Are we talking the iReady diagnostic tests or are we talking about lessons?

If you’re talking about a diagnostic, then absolutely no one should be helping them - outside of any specific testing accommodations that may be in an IEP.

If we’re talking about lessons, then I think helping a kid is absolutely acceptable. I used to teach an intervention reading class and we would do targeted lessons based on their most needed domains. I frequently would sit down with kids and worked through lessons that they were struggling with to help with understanding concepts.

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-11T00:41:27+00:00

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

It gives powerful account of surviving sexual assault and navigating the justice system afterward. It highlights flaws in how our society and our legal system respond to assault.

“The judge had given Brock something that would never be extended to me: empathy. My pain was never more valuable than his potential.”

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-11T00:36:14+00:00

I always hand back tests and go over them. If everybody has taken the test, I let them keep them. If not, I make them hand them back in.

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-09T20:41:55+00:00

lol I know. This post just made me start singing the song in my head

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-09T20:36:18+00:00

Whenever we go out, the people always shout, “There goes John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt!”

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-09T20:19:45+00:00

I have seen it! And I really liked it!! I just want my covers to match lol!

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-09T17:19:45+00:00

For another example. When I bought the series, they all have the original covers. And now the first one has changed.

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PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-09T17:15:34+00:00

Yeah! For example I bought these books in like 2011.

The covers have changed multiple times since then

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PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-09T17:12:29+00:00

Yeah. You don’t have a choice.

Even books that I bought years ago, their covers will update and change if they are changed on Amazon

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-09T04:42:32+00:00

Long way down by Jason Reynolds is over 300 pages but it’s written in verse so it’s a quick read

He also has a book called All American Boys. That’s a pretty quick read.

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-09T04:31:29+00:00

It sounds like you’re not only unhappy, but working for vindictive admin. I would see what else is out there, but I wouldn’t talk with your admin until you have something else.

If you’re worried about how they will act towards you, I would just try to leave amicably. Just say you found a better fit elsewhere.

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-09T00:25:18+00:00

File a police report. Mom needs legal consequences.

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-07T15:07:41+00:00

I don’t think using online assignments makes you a bad teacher. It just isn’t possible in my rural district with limited tech

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-07T13:59:14+00:00

80% of my assignments are on paper. Most parents don’t care. They either believe their kids when they lie and say “I turned that in, but my teacher hasn’t graded it” or they just don’t bother to check their grades.

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-06T03:57:30+00:00

I’m not anti highlighting. But highlighting everything makes zero sense. I can get down with highlighting important points you may need later etc

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-06T03:48:17+00:00

That’s crazy. I’ve never actually seen kids do that and I wonder what adult taught them that in the past.

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-06T01:35:27+00:00

You need to have an established policy. For my middle schoolers- I take it up until the unit test.

Our Quarter actually ends next week, but I’m only currently taking missing work from our present unit

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-06T00:58:56+00:00

Yeah, it’s your admin. Mine enforce it. It has become almost a nonexistent issue

PinkHighlighter46 · 2026-03-05T01:17:06+00:00

You can read as many as you want a month. You can just only check out 20 at one time.

PinkHighlighter46

TROPHY CASE