When Geraldine was about to start first grade, I developed a sudden concern (among many other concerns that amounted to nothing) that the student body might recite the Pledge of Allegiance in her school/classroom.  I have nothing against the pledge per se, but I do take issue with indoctrinating young children into blind patriotism using complex language.  And with six year olds, the majority of whom probably don’t even know the meaning of the words “pledge” or “allegiance”—let alone the rest of it—what other goal can there be?

If I were a Bad Parent with an agenda, I might ask my daughter to refrain from reciting it, at least until she was old enough to make an informed choice about it.  However, in recalling a few memories of being on the child’s end of parenting, the would-be Good Parent in me realized that it is much more productive to try to explain the Pledge, bringing the potential for informed choice to her.

I was quite pleased to find that my library owns multiple copies of I Pledge Allegiance, which is annotated by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson, and illustrated by Chris Raschka.  It breaks the Pledge down into no more than four words per page, briefly defining each word or phrase, then explaining the meaning of each within context.  Readers need a preexisting familiarity with the Pledge, or at least need to hear it from top to bottom beforehand, to get much out of the book.  The narrative is abrupt and discontinuous, as you would expect from an abstract study of another text.

The book is fair and apolitical.  This is almost a surprise if you read the authors convictions inside the jacket flap.  Martin says the Pledge is “the most beautiful chain of language” that he’s ever encountered, and Sampson says reciting the pledge gives him goose bumps.  Uh huh…  But then there’s Raschka, who is not only among my favorite illustrators, but completely made my day when I read his blurb:

“My parents have always respectfully refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance—for religious reasons and reasons of personal experience.  That’s why I was drawn to this project.  In America, we each have the freedom to choose, including the freedom to choose whether or not to say the Pledge.”

This says nothing at all about his personal opinion of the Pledge, which is wise and commendable, but it goes a long way to validate people like me, who would respectfully (I think) refrain from reciting it.  ^[1]

Turns out they don’t recite the Pledge at Geraldine’s school, but they do sing a “patriotic song” in the morning.  I haven’t asked about the nature of the song yet.  Before I do, I want to flesh out a personal opinion about which is the lesser of evils:  a complexly-worded statement that invites indoctrination without understanding, or a simply-worded song which may effectively sway young minds.  If nothing else, it warrants a parent-child discussion.

the book:
Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson.  I Pledge Allegiance.  Illustrated by Chris Raschka.  Candlewick, 2002.  40 pages.  Age 6 to 9.

Nonfiction Monday is at Lori Calabrese Writes! today.

^[1]  If you’re really curious (and, please, duck out now if you’re liable to be offended) here are the reasons why I wouldn’t say the pledge:

• I get that it’s symbolic, but it invites you to worship an inanimate object.
• Out of respect for diversity of beliefs, I don’t think God has a place there.
• I don’t especially think that the U.S. is superior to other countries, and could just as easily slip off to Sweden (or elsewhere).
• I take promises extremely seriously, and as a result I tend to avoid making them.
• I don’t stand behind everything this country has done/is doing.

If you want to know why I, as an adult, don’t stand for/sing the National Anthem, or “America the Beautiful,” or “God Bless America” (that’s a song, right?) at sporting events and other it’s the same set of reasons.  Just add or subtract the “inanimate object” and “God” and “promise” parts as lyrics dictate.  The other two stand, regardless.

I invite you to offer your own opinions/counterpoints.  It can’t possibly get more heated than the time my parents and I debated the “under God” part.