Elementary School Allows Teachers, Students to Protest 'Acts of Patriotic Symbolism' During Pledge of Allegiance

By Todd Starnes
Bible with the American Flag
Bible with the American Flag Reuters

A Baltimore elementary school will allow students and teachers to protest "acts of patriotic symbolism" including the Pledge of Allegiance. 

A parent sent me a copy of a letter written by the principal at Roland Park Elementary and Middle School. The letter was in response to the ongoing national debate over folks taking a knee to dishonor the military and disrespect the flag. 

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"Specifically related to National Anthem protests and debates, our school supports any teacher's and student's decision to choose whether or not to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance," principal Nick D'Ambrosio wrote.

The principal told parents he affirmed the diverse views of the grade schoolers  "of our surrounding community and global environment."

And by "global environment" - I don't believe he's referring to the red-blooded American taxpayers who pay his salary along with the school's electric bill.

"We will continue to respect and celebrate our diverse community as we model for our students that Roland Park can and will continue to progress towards being an equitable environment," he added. 

The principal told me it's not a new policy -- but he did want to clarify their position on the issue. He went on to reassure parents that educators would provide the children with "the space for purposeful and reflective judgment to form their own opinions and stances."

I'm no expert on elementary education, but I suspect the kids are more concerned about whether the lunch ladies are serving tater tots than advancing Colin Kaepernick's political agenda. 

"We support our students' decisions to be active participants of our society," the principal wrote. "Part of being active participants may involve our students involving themselves in protests to bring about change where they see injustice."

Remember when grade school was about learning how to read and write and frolicking on the playground?

But progressive educators long ago turned their classrooms into indoctrination centers -- hellbent on churning out a generation of Little Colin Kaepernicks. 

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Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary. His latest book is "The Deplorables' Guide to Making America Great Again." Follow him on Twitter @ToddStarnes and find him on Facebook

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