Saying the Pledge in Montessori Preschool

[SoulJourney]

Hi all...

Let me preface this by saying I really love 99% of DS's school, he loves it and is really, really thriving. He'll be four in a few week and I'm amazed at the things he already knows and is learning from this school. My problem...they make them say the pledge every morning. 3-6 year olds? Really? I don't agree with saying the pledge period, to me it's like forcing them to pray. But when you are forcing 3-6 year olds to *pledge their allegience* to a flag when some of them don't understand what they are doing and why they are doing it is just frustrating to me. I volunteer in the classroom and just realized they do this. I've been trying to come up with a constructive way to approach the teachers/school head about this. I am not the best with confrontation and struggle with adequately expressing my thoughts when I'm frustrated about something so any help would be appreciated! Noah (DS) saw me *not* do the pledge when I was there and afterward he told me I should have done it. I politely explained to him that nobody *has* to do it and until he understands what and why he's doing it (and fully agrees with what he's doing) then he shouldn't be doing it, either.

Argh.

Thoughts? Suggestions on how to approach this?

TIA mamas!

[kittykat2481]

Not much help here. At DS's school (not religiously affilliated) they say a prayer before snacks and meals. Something simple like "God is great, God is good" etc, but it still happens. It wasn't something that was shared during the enrollment process, although it's not like they were hiding it either. HOWEVER, it is something that falls in line with our beliefs and values, so it only made us happier with the school. I can see how it would have upset someone else. I don't know that they say the pledge at my son's school, but I wouldn't mind if they did.

Oh, and DS is 23 months and in the toddler program.

[SoulJourney]

This was not something that was disclosed (or hidden!) during enrollement, either. Putting my political views & values aside I think the thing I have the biggest problem with is that my son cannot tell me what it is he's saying or why he's saying it. He's only reciting a politically loaded verse that is being taught to him without understanding the meaning, values or implications behind what he's saying. If he's old enough to understand exactly what he's saying and why he's saying it, then given the distinct CHOICE to participate or not, I wouldn't have as much of a problem with it. It just doesn't seem to go along with my understanding of the Montessori style of education.