Issue What does the Pledge of Allegiance represent today? Starter [Writer Mark Singer traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to report on the city's debate over a new state law mandating that all public and private schools recite the Pledge of Allegiance or sing the national anthem each day. The law was passed before September 11, but Madison's debate over implementing the law did not begin until after the terrorist attacks. As reported by Singer, the community's debate was extremely vigorous and heated. The Madison school board's final resolution of the issue was to let individual principals decide whether to offer the pledge or the national anthem, and to precede the daily ceremony with this preamble: "We live in a nation of freedom. Participation in the Pledge or Anthem is voluntary. Those who wish to participate may stand; others may remain seated." Singer visited a high school classroom in Madison to observe the morning ceremony. Of twenty-five students in the room, only one stood while the national anthem was played. Four boys made a point of leaving the room before the anthem began. The following are quotes from Singer's conversation with students that followed the playing of the anthem.] "I believe in the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem, but if we have to do it day in, day out, it loses its value." "It's promoting militarism and nationalism in the classroom, and I'm strongly against that." "What's the difference between standing and sitting? Does standing mean that you appreciate it more?" "If we were required to recite the pledge each day instead of listening to the national anthem, I would have found a stronger form of expression than leaving the room." "Sitting isn't going against the government. When I sit during the national anthem, I'm probably thinking more about my country than those who stand. I'm thinking that I'm grateful to live in a nation where I have the ability to sit or stand. But I still disagree with many of the things our government is doing right now, and by sitting I'm making a statement to that effect." "I know of another school in Wisconsin where they've tried hard to come up with a more musically interesting version of the anthem. There's a Whitney Houston version, I think, and a Marvin Gaye version, and a Jimi Hendrix version." "I'd stand up for Jimi Hendrix." Excerpt from Mark Singer, "I Pledge Allegiance," in The New Yorker (November 26, 2001) ©2001, Conde Nast Publications. All rights reserved. Used with the permission of Mark Singer. Photo courtesy of Mark Singer. Focus Questions What do you think of the arguments these students make regarding their decision not to stand during the playing of the national anthem? Is there value in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or playing the national anthem each day? Do you agree with the Madison school board's decision to emphasize that participation in the pledge or anthem is voluntary? Symbols of America Pathway: 1  2  3  4  5  All (.pdf) Note: The views expressed here have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association, and accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the American Bar Association, nor do they represent the official position or policies of the ABA Standing Committee on Public Education.