Journal and Courier Editorial on the symbolic mandates the General Assembly is force feeding (SB 332) our schools. They say:
Count on legislators, when they think they have nothing better to do, to return to unflagging shows of patriotism to lift their spirits.
The General Assembly this week sent to Gov. Mitch Daniels a copy of Senate Bill 332, a measure that requires schools to display a U.S. flag in every classroom, to provide a daily opportunity for students to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance and to establish a daily moment of silence in each classroom.
Now who could vote against that? But do schools really need the state to force feed them patriotism and individual reflection?
Their proposal: beef up civics classes, teach them why the symbols are important. Teach them what the First Amendment means. This is a great point. I seem to recall hearing that not all high schools require or even offer civics classes. That’s disappointing. We need to teach our kids what it means to be citizens as opposed to just consumers or workers or voters or flag-waving partisans.
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