Ask Lemmy

Probably just the New Colossus poem enscribed beneath Lady Liberty.

I actually feel a sense of patriotic pride when I read that.

A pledge to democracy and democratic values

Just let them visit amongst themselves for like two minutes and get ready to tackle the day.

If anything, get them to find/research their own that they identify with and explain what makes it personal to them.

mushrooms and puppies

Can we make a pledge to be a good and productive person?

I pledge to be fair, stay curious and stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. To never forget we are a people dedicated to a just and free society for all. To be welcoming and inclusive of all peoples, rich or poor and the regardless if the color of their skin or their faith or gender or sexual orientation. Except Donald Trump. That guy is a jerk.

hmmm, the tao of bill & ted kinda works for me.

Teacher: "What is best in life?"

Students (In Unison): "To crush your enemies. See them driven before you. And hear the lamentations of their women."

I really can't remember the last time I said it in school, would have been super early on, 1st or 2nd grade back in the 70s. Definitely not after that.

From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel. I aspired to the purity of the blessed machine. Your kind cling to your flesh as if it will not decay and fail you. One day the crude biomass that you call a temple will wither and you’ll beg my kind to save you. But I am already saved. For the machine is immortal. Even in death, I serve the Omnissiah.

give them shovels, and the person who digs the deepest hole gets given a non monetary prize

Give them 5 minutes with fidget spinners or other fidget toys.

Only half joking, stimming be good for you.

Something based on the scout oath. "a scout is trustworthy, loyal, honest..." Except based on what an American should be. "An American values the opinions of others, is a safe shot with a gun, does not live with someone without their consent, keeps their property secure, demands due process of the law, uses a lawyer, believes in the jury trail, does not apply cruel punishment, believes there are rights we don't know reserved to us, and believes in limited government" (you should find each article in the bill of rights above) Of course better wordsmiths than I should rewrite that, and we probably need a lot of debate.

Note that I never pledge allegiance. As a christian my allegiance is to God and so it would be a lie to pledge allegiance to anything else. Thus making me recite the common pledge is a violation of the first amendment. (this is much clearer if you read the 12 amendments as originally proposed - for better or worse what actually passed isn't as clear)

A conga line.

The Pledge of Ethics?

"most students"? "every morning"?

My class only did it until we had it memorized, and then never again.

The Pledge of Allegiance... To Science!

Pledges reek of authoritarianism to me, so maybe replace it with a common saying like "Be excellent to each other because we have no more or less entitlement to this world than any other being and our individual perspective is at best a tiny viewport not to be confused with reality"

An elevator music rendition of the national anthem, if anything is needed at all (or maybe use this opportunity to remind students that individual towns/cities have flags, anthems, and pledges too).

Shower thought: What do deaf kids do for the pledge?

Keep the same wording but replace with operative terms such as flag with Israel!