Are patriotic teachers a thing of the past?

I just ran across a classic Red Skelton video about a teacher he had who worried that the daily Pledge of Allegiance had become “monotonous” and students didn’t fully appreciate the “meaning of the words.”

How things have changed. Nowadays Dennis-Yarmouth High School student, Ashley Jacobs, has teachers who worry that students are patriotic, and openly vilify military service during school hours.

Two teachers at Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School have touched off a firestorm after holding up an “End War” sign at a school assembly where six students who’ve enlisted in the military were being honored. 

It’s no surprise that there are lefty activist teachers. In fact I think it may be a requirement for admittance into the NEA. It’s just not every day that you see them employ Code Pink-lite tactics against their students while on the job.

But then things have changed since Skelton was a boy. Nowadays students are treated like subversives if they want to perform Ave Maria at Christmas or use prohibited language like “God Bless,” so I guess it follows that love of country and dedicating one’s future to preserving freedom would be subject to taxpayer-funded expressions of contempt as well.

And I guess it follows that Principal, Ken Jenks, would have no objections to teachers Marybeth Verani and Adeline Koscher brainwashing teens with far-left, anti-American propaganda during school hours. Although, he did object to their choice of room:

Students say Marybeth Verani talks frequently about her political views, and choosing this public forum now has principal Ken Jenks taking a closer look. 

“I think there’s a sincere interest in fostering that dialogue, but I think the classroom is a better environment,” said Jenks. 

Something tells me that this man isn’t lying awake at night worrying that Pledge of Allegiance has become “monotonous” to the students.

I wonder what those who pay for this brand of “education” think. Do these “educators” ever think to ask for feedback from those left holding the bill?  What about a community meeting prior to the next school bond levy? They could lay it all out – maybe something along these lines:

“Thank you for coming, tonight. The school board intends to cut Plymouth Plantation, Winter at Valley Forge, the Bataan Death March, and the entire Civil War from our high school history curriculum. That will allow Ms. Verani one-half hour every day to destroy your children’s national pride and convince them that the blood-bought gift of being an American isn’t worth preserving. Coffee and cookies are in the back. Be sure to vote yes on the bond measure Tuesday. Remember, it’s for the kids!”

That’ll be the day.

Whatever happened to Red Skelton’s Mr. Lasslow – and scores like him – who inspired young minds with the patriotism and character that would later drive back tyranny during World War II and bequeath to us the freedom that we have today?

Here are Mr. Laslow’s words as Red Skelton remembered them: 

“Boys and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it appears that it has become monotonous to you, or could it be you do not know the meaning of those words. If I may, I would like to recite the Pledge and give to you a definition of the words.
I — meaning me, an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge — dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.
Allegiance — my love and my devotion.
To the Flag — our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there is respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody’s job.
Of the United — that means that we have all come together.
States — individual communities that have united into 48 great states. 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose, all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that’s love of country.
Of America
And to the Republic — a republic, a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it’s from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands!
One nation — meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible — incapable of being divided.
With Liberty — which is freedom and the right of power to live one’s life without threats or fear or any sort of retaliation.
And justice — The principle and quality of dealing fairly with others.
For all — which means, boys and girls, it’s as much your country as it is mine.”

And this is what Verani and Koscher and scores like them instill in the impressionable young minds under their tutelage: Military service is not an honorable calling, the U.S. is not worth protecting, peace at all costs trumps freedom, and the sacrifices of Red Skelton’s generation were worthless and foolish. 

Here is Red Skelton’s Pledge of Allegiance from 1969: 

Hat tip to Who Will Win the 2012 Election and American Power.

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