It never ceases to amaze me how some people JUST DON'T GET IT!

Before I go any further with this history of the very political events that have been happening in Woodbury, Vermont, I want to make a couple of things clear. First, there are no legal prohibitions to reciting the Pledge anytime or anywhere. In 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower Federal court on an issue involving the Pledge. The decision to overturn was unanimous, 8 to 0. Justice Scalia had recused himself as he had made some pro Pledge remarks shortly before the Court was scheduled to hear the case. Symbolically, the unanimous Court decision was announced on June 14, 2004. A date in June also know as Flag Day.

Second, the disagreement about the Pledge within the classroom is not about compulsory recitation. That has been unconstitutional since 1943. Imagine if you will, the greatness of our Country. Even at the height of World War II, the U.S. Supreme Court was willing to rule that no one may be compelled to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

So what is it about the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom that, in my opinion, has both Principal Michaela Martin and the School Board, Chaired by Retta Dunlap, acting against the expressed interests of the over 310 townspeople and taxpayers who have signed a petition asking that the Pledge of Allegiance be returned? Remember, this town has just over 600 voters.

With regard to Principal Martin, I am of the opinion that she lacks any belief in the value to be gained from the recitation of the Pledge by students. The school teaches math because there is a societal value in the citizenry learning math. The school teaches reading because there is a societal value in the citizenry learning to read. What is it about a legal, traditional and convenient, (when done in the classroom) patriotic ceremony of 20 seconds duration that Principal Martin could find objectionable? Why is it that the Pledge is opposed by an educator? Doesn't Principal Martin realize that for someone to know of the fundamental greatness of their country that it would help if the school would educate in that realm also? Faith in the fundamental greatness of our country is not part of the DNA. We are not born with it. At some modicum of a level it has to be nurtured, lest we end up with self absorbed adults who think that the gifts of liberty and justice for all are not an ideal worthy enough to be fought for. Of course, it could be that Principal Martin does not believe in the fundamental greatness of this country.

With regard to Retta Dunlap, in the many one-on-one discussions that I have had with her, she has disclosed that she has had little life experience reciting the Pledge. That it simply was not part of her educational experience growing up and therefore she does not feel very connected to it. My representations that to most of her fellow residents of Woodbury, the Pledge is an important, traditional and fondly remembered American public school tradition, was simply met with what in my opinion would have to be called, a blank stare. It is my opinion that Retta Dunlap simply did not get it and is now in way over her head on the wrong side of this issue. Her continued insistence, at School Board meeting after School Board meeting that the Board had more important things to consider was belied by the fact that the Board took over two months to make the wrong decision in that they did not support the return of the Pledge to the classroom, but rather first to the gym and then the school lobby. That's right. You read it correctly. Those students who want to say the Pledge must now leave the classroom to do so. Do you think there is a message being received by the 5 to 12 year olds about saying the Pledge? By separate vote on different days, the Board affirmed both locations. It is my opinion that Retta Dunlap's name is now associated with blocking the return of the Pledge to the school classroom and her political aspirations to a seat in the Vermont Legislature, which she had made know to me as her objective for 2010, are little more than dreams.

Now enter the multi-town School Superintendent. His name is Mark Andrews and I am of the opinion that he is a savvy, educated man who came to realize that he needed to help Principal Martin and the School Board out with an escape from this controversy. After all, the other towns in his jurisdiction that recite the Pledge on a daily basis do so in the classroom. To his credit, at the School Board meeting of November 18th, he recommended that the Pledge be conducted in the classroom. Unbelievably, and to the astonishment of the taxpayers of Woodbury, the School Board refused to change their position and affirmed the Principal's decision to have the Pledge occur in the lobby for those students who desired to participate.

Next entry will discuss why the Principal agreeing to allow the Pledge in the school lobby before the start of the instructional day is agreeing to allow Pledge supporters to do what they already have the right to do. More on that next.