The Deseret News yesterday published a story on the front page about Senator Allen Christensen's (R-Ogden) bill to require every Utah public school classroom to display the American flag and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. I thought this was an entirely ineffective way to promote patriotism, Sen. Christensen's stated objective, so I wrote a letter to the editor. And the Deseret News published it.
Here is the article:
Law sought to require classroom flags
by Jennifer Toomer-Cook
The Pledge of Allegiance, flag etiquette classes, the "In God We Trust" motto, and now, the Stars and Stripes and the Declaration of Independence—state legislators want to make schools more outwardly patriotic places.
Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, is drafting a bill that would require the display of the American flag and a copy of the Declaration of Independence in every public school classroom in Utah.
"This started off because a friend of mind did a little bit of research on college campuses and he couldn't find anybody who could tell him what the Constitution was, let alone what was in it — and these were college students," Christensen said.
"There's not a lot of patriotism going around out there," he said, contrasting controversy over the war in Iraq with patriotism of World War II. "We need to pass some of this on to the younger generations, what a truly special and wonderful thing our Constitution is and what a fabulous country we live in. We can't require they say the Pledge of Allegiance anymore, but anything we can do to teach the younger generations to truly revere the flag and at least know something about the Constitution, I would love that."
The bill does not require the Constitution be displayed in classrooms, but Christensen said he might add that provision, and maybe the Bill of Rights, to the bill's requirements.
But some educators wonder if the bill will have the desired effect.
"I always assumed that the state required the American flag be in every classroom — I've never been in a classroom without an American flag," said Mike Leavitt, a history teacher at Riverton High School. "I don't necessarily believe (the bill's requirements) would raise the level of awareness for patriotism or for our Constitution."
Many schools have a "freedom shrine" of historically significant documents. State law requires elementary students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily, though parents can excuse children from the exercise. Secondary schools are encouraged to do so weekly; the Granite Board of Education, for one, requires as much.
State law also requires schools to post the national motto, "In God We Trust." Several school districts received donations to buy framed depictions of the phrase; Christensen believes a similar outpouring would follow his bill.
The state core curriculum also includes flag education for elementary students and U.S. history and civics for older children.
Crestview Elementary principal Verneita Hunt says those lessons are taught.
"You can't make kids more patriotic," said Hunt, whose students have sent valentines to service men and women in Iraq in past years.
"You can show them, teach them, help them understand our country, and then because of the love of their country ... they will become more patriotic because they choose to be, because they understand the freedoms our Constitution gives us."
In the aftermath of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, several schools showed outward signs of patriotism, including singing patriotic songs, writing notes to the troops, offering service.
Schools still do that sort of thing. But they've been downplayed as schools focus on the three R's and do-or-die tests. And it's true, today's students are not like those in the 1940s.
"How do you change society?" Hunt said.
"It's been a long time since we've had a world war ... since our nation has truly come together and sacrificed hard," she said. "We get a little spoiled in our life — and sometimes it's our own freedoms, freedom of speech, of being able to do things we do ... and we forget truly what that freedom has given us."
Leavitt says students learn better when they can relate the Constitution to their lives now, rather than to words on a hanging document or in a textbook.
Riverton High students turned civics lessons into practice last month when they lobbied legislators and the Jordan Board of Education to observe Veterans Day, a state and federal holiday, with time off from school. Students came up with the idea from their own experience with family members and loved ones who have served or are serving in the military, and they wanted a day to spend time with and honor them.
"When kids see civics in action, that's the best way to learn," Leavitt said. "That's kind of what we're teaching as educators, is rigor and relevance, something where the kids think this is going to apply to them, pertain to them, in the future. That's the best way to do it."
"This started off because a friend of mind did a little bit of research on college campuses and he couldn't find anybody who could tell him what the Constitution was, let alone what was in it — and these were college students," Christensen said.
"There's not a lot of patriotism going around out there," he said, contrasting controversy over the war in Iraq with patriotism of World War II. "We need to pass some of this on to the younger generations, what a truly special and wonderful thing our Constitution is and what a fabulous country we live in. We can't require they say the Pledge of Allegiance anymore, but anything we can do to teach the younger generations to truly revere the flag and at least know something about the Constitution, I would love that."
The bill does not require the Constitution be displayed in classrooms, but Christensen said he might add that provision, and maybe the Bill of Rights, to the bill's requirements.
But some educators wonder if the bill will have the desired effect.
"I always assumed that the state required the American flag be in every classroom — I've never been in a classroom without an American flag," said Mike Leavitt, a history teacher at Riverton High School. "I don't necessarily believe (the bill's requirements) would raise the level of awareness for patriotism or for our Constitution."
Many schools have a "freedom shrine" of historically significant documents. State law requires elementary students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily, though parents can excuse children from the exercise. Secondary schools are encouraged to do so weekly; the Granite Board of Education, for one, requires as much.
State law also requires schools to post the national motto, "In God We Trust." Several school districts received donations to buy framed depictions of the phrase; Christensen believes a similar outpouring would follow his bill.
The state core curriculum also includes flag education for elementary students and U.S. history and civics for older children.
Crestview Elementary principal Verneita Hunt says those lessons are taught.
"You can't make kids more patriotic," said Hunt, whose students have sent valentines to service men and women in Iraq in past years.
"You can show them, teach them, help them understand our country, and then because of the love of their country ... they will become more patriotic because they choose to be, because they understand the freedoms our Constitution gives us."
In the aftermath of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, several schools showed outward signs of patriotism, including singing patriotic songs, writing notes to the troops, offering service.
Schools still do that sort of thing. But they've been downplayed as schools focus on the three R's and do-or-die tests. And it's true, today's students are not like those in the 1940s.
"How do you change society?" Hunt said.
"It's been a long time since we've had a world war ... since our nation has truly come together and sacrificed hard," she said. "We get a little spoiled in our life — and sometimes it's our own freedoms, freedom of speech, of being able to do things we do ... and we forget truly what that freedom has given us."
Leavitt says students learn better when they can relate the Constitution to their lives now, rather than to words on a hanging document or in a textbook.
Riverton High students turned civics lessons into practice last month when they lobbied legislators and the Jordan Board of Education to observe Veterans Day, a state and federal holiday, with time off from school. Students came up with the idea from their own experience with family members and loved ones who have served or are serving in the military, and they wanted a day to spend time with and honor them.
"When kids see civics in action, that's the best way to learn," Leavitt said. "That's kind of what we're teaching as educators, is rigor and relevance, something where the kids think this is going to apply to them, pertain to them, in the future. That's the best way to do it."
And here is my response:
As a 20-year-old college student, I was taken aback by Sen. Allen Christensen's claim that his friend "couldn't find" college students with knowledge of the Constitution, but even more so by his lack of confidence in my generation.
It cannot be assumed, as Sen. Christensen has done, that we do not love our country. I have experienced public education much more recently than Sen. Christensen. I did learn patriotism from my public schools — not from mechanically reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, rather from teachers who taught well and challenged me.
I do not believe this proposed bill can foster better citizens. Measures to improve the quality of teaching and learning, however, could.
I do not believe this proposed bill can foster better citizens. Measures to improve the quality of teaching and learning, however, could.
