Every morning, across the United States, millions of school children rise, place their hand over their heart, and pledge allegiance to the flag.
It’s a tradition that dates back to October 1892, but in recent years more and more people are questioning if the practice is still necessary.
A recent video shared on TikTok by a user who goes by onetoughcookie has caught a lot of attention. In the viral video, a middle school student shares her candid thoughts about saying the pledge in school.
“To stand up every morning, and it’s like, it’s really creepy because everybody just knows what to do so, they all just stand. Really weird,” she explains to the camera. “I sit there, and I don’t say a thing because it’s really creepy that I have to pledge my allegiance to a flag.”
“Is America that fragile?” she adds. “It’s like a marriage that never worked out… like you’re scared of getting left again.”
The video caused quite the stir, though most comments were all in agreement.
While many may be quick to defend the pledge, one person asked others to think about the practice in a different situation.
“If you don’t think it’s weird that our kids do it, imagine us adults having to do it at the start of the workday.”
Several teachers also chimed in adding their own thoughts and rules for their classrooms.
“I’m a teacher and I feel the exact same. I look at the students wondering if anyone else feels this way,” someone wrote.
“I was just telling my family this as a new teacher! In school it seemed fine, now it’s weird,” another teacher commented.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like to read about the time a high school football player took off his helmet and sang the national anthem before his game.
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What are your thoughts on schoolchildren saying the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the school day? Share your thoughts with us!
