This video is about a young boy in the sixth grade that is yanked by his teacher to stand up and take the pledge of allegiance. The young boy is forced to do something he does not want to do by an authoritative figure. He expresses his dissatisfaction with his teacher as she used physical force and not words to get the child to stand up. The young boy explains that his rights were violated and he has no obligation to stand up and pledge the allegiance. His explanation is his religion and his idea that pledging to the flag is not what he believes is right. His parents supported his decision and made sure he knew that his actions were correct. The boy mentions that he could have let it go however it was his right not to stand up and he believes that refusing to stand up sets an example for his younger siblings that they do not have to assimilate and do something just because an authority figure is ordering them to do so when they feel it is wrong. The school district did not support the teacher as that teacher is now suspended and the district leaders sent out a statement that they fully support his and any children right to stand or not stand for the pledge of allegiance.
This takes place in an educational institution. The teacher is mentioned to be a guide for other teachers. This kind of action is not acceptable in a democracy that the United States has set for its citizens. While the teacher may have a personal agenda towards pledging to the flag the district itself does not. It is a federal place and a place of education meaning that there is no force for the child to participate in anything he deems unjust and incorrect based on his religion. The school cannot force students to pledge as the pledge of allegiance has citings of God and religion in them. While it is allowed to be said in schools it is not allowed for them to force children to do so as the government of the United States has separated church and state.
When totalitarianism is mentioned more often than not we seem to think of extreme countries that have full control over their people. However, it can be seen in the educational system. Many students like this young boy have been forced to do things they do not feel is right and violates their rights as United States citizens. When students are forced to pledge the allegiance that is a violation of rights. When students are forced to talk about their classmates to administrative leaders that is a violation of their rights. When children are held after school for an abnormal amount of time that is a violation of rights. When children have their personal belongings taken away that is a violation of rights. While we may see the educational system as a system that imposes rules and morals it must do so in a way that does not violate the basic rights children have. Totalitarianism is seen in classrooms across America and left untouched. The educational system should impose morals and knowledge however not at the cost of the children being forced to participate in situations they do not want to participate in such as pledging allegiance to the flag. The educational system is there to prepare students for the real world, and violating their rights as well as denying them is not what teachers should be teaching their students.
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