Pledge of Allegiance for Toddlers? [View All]

Politics and parenting (normally two separate though related dimensions in my life) collided yesterday when I checked out a Montessori program for my 2 year old. 'The children gather in a circle each morning and say the Pledge of Allegiance'.

What, even the 2 year olds? Well, the (admittedly wonderful) lady said, we didn't always do it that way for the toddler group, but one of them had a brother in the preschool (age 3-5) group, and he started reciting it one day during circle time, so that's how we started.

Ho hum. Whatever my feelings about having 10 year olds say it (mixed) and feelings about having 6 year olds say it (generally negative), I think it is absolutely ABSURD that anyone would want a small child of 4 or 3 or for heaven's sake TWO YEARS OLD to get it pre-programmed into their little minds long before they understand what any of it means.

In the meantime, a close friend's 5 year old comes home the other day saying 'I really want to fight for my country'.