Fausto | 2011/02/24

I like the way you empower the students by letting them create a pledge (Bloom will recognize this as a higher order). I also love the emphasis on process and the deep faith that this is only part of a longer educational journey. Kids crating their world; that is the higher vision. Congratulations!

WSS | 2011/02/20

Unfortunately, there are a lot ignorant and illiterate people out there who are able to make stupid comments on a site like this. God bless and help the fundamentalists in their misguided ways of thinking, speaking, and writing.

LMS | 2011/02/19

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LMS | 2011/02/19

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MS | 2011/02/19

The world is your mirror. A loving person lives in a loving world. A hateful person lives in a hateful world. And ignorant people usually feel and act ignorantly threatened.

Dale | 2011/02/17

You sir are a KNUCLE-HEAD!

Sandra Heidel | 2011/02/17

STOP! Our Pledge,Constitution, Founding Fathers, and History is to be taught not change. Stop trying so hard to eliminate our History which many man and woman have died for over the years. If you have so much time on your hands than you are not doing a good job at your job and maybe being a teacher is not for you

RDM | 2011/02/17

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? | 2011/02/16

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Freddy Boisseau | 2011/02/15

The pledge that this teacher has written changes the meaning, and do not tell me that 4th grade children can not understand it in the correct form. I was a Boy Scout leader and taught all my boys the meaning. Just some major points: Pledging to the government, is different then pledging to the REPUBLIC. A Republic is a limited form of democracy where people elect representatives, who vote on the laws on the people behalf. This is important, because our Founders did not want a direct democracy, because they knew it could lead to mob rule. Fairness is not the same as justice. Justice sometimes must be unfair to be just, justice means the rule of law. Is it fair that a individual go to jail because their parent taught them to steal for a living? Some would say no, but justice or the rule of law demands it. Teach the meaning of the pledge, not what you want it to mean.

Ed | 2011/02/15

Kinda cool. I like that the kids helped create it.

tinkabell | 2011/02/15

Has the NEA/Michael lost your minds? This is so typical of what is wrong with our educational system these days. The NEA like most other unions need to go away and let parents run the schools...not the unions. Maybe that is why "home schooling" is doing so well these days?

Judy | 2011/02/15

Children need to recite the Pledge as it is written. The less you expect from kids the less you will get. After all the pledge is easy and meaningfu. My three year old granddaughter can recite it flawlessly!

Judy | 2011/02/15

Children need to recite the Pledge as it is written. The less you expect from kids the less you will get. After all the pledge is easy and meaningfu. My three year old granddaughter can recite it flawlessly!

Uncle Johnny | 2011/02/15

Since my last comment was not printed, here we go with a shorter version. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DOES NOT NEED TO BE REWRITTEN!!!

Uncle Johnny | 2011/02/15

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S. Cook | 2011/02/15

This is an outrage. This pledge was good enough to come through the ages and children taught in one room school houses had no trouble learning it, what's wrong with todays teachers?

Susan Fanfarillo | 2011/02/15

Typical of what is wrong with our culture these days. Low expectations of kids and lower standards. It just isn't that hard to learn. It also gives kids the idea that they can do things their way when life isn't like that. No wonder we are falling behind in our academics compared to other countries.

Susan Fanfarillo | 2011/02/15

Typical of what is wrong with our culture these days. Low expectations of kids and lower standards. It just isn't that hard to learn. It also gives kids the idea that they can do things their way when life isn't like that. No wonder we are falling behind in our academics compared to other countries.

Total disrespect! | 2011/02/14

Unexceptable! I did not know it was a teachers responsability to change history, let alone the Pledge of Allegience to fit or her own personnal corriculumn. If the NEA stands behind this I will be applaulled! States will be trying to cut funds for education. Based on this, go ahead! Cut it, because it sure isnt being used correctly!

Jennifer | 2011/02/14

NEA, did you print this because it makes you proud of this "teacher"? Clearly, Mr. Michael Szewczyk doesn't understand the Pledge of Allegiance either!

? | 2011/02/14

NEA, did you print this because it makes you proud of this teacher? He should teach the facts and not rewrite the pledge. Clearly, he doesn't understand it either!

Ken | 2011/02/14

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sharon | 2011/02/14

This makes me want to cry.. Teachers, not teaching one our most precious promises to each other,to our flag, to our REPUBLIC, to our GOD..No wonder kids today do not respect or care about the nation we live in.. Glad I take it upon myself to teach my kids what this nation stands for and how we got here. Shame on you, for deliberately dumbing down our kids..Teaching is a tough job, and if you can't take it, you need to get out of the business..

Howard | 2011/02/14

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will Bruder | 2011/02/14

This really turns my stomach. This teacher should be firedimmediately.I agree that she should teach the Pledge and not alter it. The deucation of our youth is a great responsibility, that one should not take lightly.I hope Governor Christie gets this and doles out the discilpine.

Ken Chaffin | 2011/02/14

This teacher should be FIRED NOW. And if the union wants to keep her she should work for the union as a janator !!!!!!

Wendylady | 2011/02/14

Are you serious?? You're a teacher?? Teacher of what, ignorance? The fact that you changed the words to mean that you pledge to the government instead of our flag which stands for something we're trying to hold on to is insulting. It's obvious you got your teaching degree out of a Cracker Jack box!

Wendy | 2011/02/14

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Jeff | 2011/02/14

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Bonnie | 2011/02/14

You rewrote the meaning of the pledge. Do you seriously not see the difference between pledging allegiance to the Republic and pledging to the government? Teach the pledge and explain what it means. Teach!

victoria | 2011/02/14

teach the meaning and DO NOT change the words!!!!

**** | 2011/02/14

Students should be taught the meaning (and spelling) of the words in the pledge, not be asked to speak a dumbed down version. That's an unqualified teacher in a NJ school for you.

Tom Cook | 2011/02/14

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James Hull | 2011/02/14

Hey NEA: How about teaching my kids about reading, writing, arithmetic and American history and leave the political subversion to Islamic extremists.

Reese | 2011/02/14

How about teaching the meaning of the words behind the pledge, instead of changing the pledge. Here's a great example of how to do so, http://www.wootv.us/play.php?vid=64 Red Skelton said it very well.

Reese | 2011/02/14

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Tom | 2011/02/14

You're kidding right? Are you such a moron as to believe that children can't understand the pledge as written? I wouldn't let you teach a rock let alone my child.

Dave Van Allen | 2011/02/14

I wouldn't let you teach my dog let alone my child

? | 2011/02/14

You are TEACHERS and do not know the difference between FAIRNESS and JUSTICE? There can be only one explanation? Liberal Agenda!

melissa | 2010/11/07

kiss a boy

Sara | 2010/06/18

Your kid version is not grammatically sound. Why not get kids to learn the vocabulary of the Pledge, and for the sake of unity we all recite the same words. My second graders do it! They love new words.

Chris Anderson | 2010/05/24

And for older elementary students, you can make this exercise cross-disciplinary with history and computer tech by having them read, and discuss or summarize, the Wikipedia account of the Pledge and its evolution, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance. You could also do this for the national anthem, Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, your state song or motto, etc.

Chris Anderson | 2010/05/24

Good Idea Michael. I've done something similar by extracting words from the Pledge that students may not know, putting them on a worksheet, then having the students look up and write the definitions, discuss the words in groups, use them in sentences, and try to give examples of the words in real life. The words are: pledge; allegiance; republic; indivisible; liberty, and justice (some of which are a little vague even to many adults). You could also apply this strategy to the national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner, a state song, or any other oft-repeated writing or song. This addresses our adult assumption that students understand words we take for granted; it also encourages the habit in students of really thinking about their comprehension (do I understand all of this?) and familiarizes them with resources (dictionary and/or computer) and processes they can use to improve comprehension.