I have been pondering the task of basing a curriculum on the pledge
of allegiance. I would like to propose a way of thinking about this
task that uses a little of what we know theoretically and at least
has the virtue (since I live in California and teach not in a
second grade) of being interesting.
Here it is:
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE to the FLAG of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA
and to the REPUBLIC for which it STANDS, one NATION [UNDER GOD],
INDIVISIBLE, with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL>
(Note, I put the words, under god, in square brackets because when
I was a child this phrase was not part of the pledge. I keep forgetting
where it is supposed to be inserted).
Look at all the interesting concepts there. What is a pledge? What
is allegiance? What is a flag and what does it mean to stand for
something, especially to "stand for" a republic? What is a republic?
What is a nation and what does it mean for it to be indivisible?
What does under God mean? Liberty? Justice? What does it mean
to have liberty and justice for all? Who is the all?
I am not sure where I would start there are so many possible starting
points. I guess one way would be historically with, perhaps, the
Betsy Ross story and the question of people fleeing Europe. I would
include the people they displaced (that being a big aspect of the
"All" that is as relevant in Colorado today as it was in
Massachusetts 200+ years ago. There ought to be some interesting
ways to get hand on activity around flags and stands for. Colorado
flags (who was the all in Colorado when Betsy was stitching?),
US flags-- lots of them of different kinds. State flags of the
1st 13 colonies.
There is a whole moral development curriculum here, of course.
Pledging one's word, insuring justice for all.
etc.
Maybe its a good starting point for the social studies curriculum
after all? Surviving with one's job after developing the
curriculum along these lines might be a little difficult. The
moral saloon owners of Cripple Creek might want to run you
out of town on a rail.
mike
PS- For the non-Coloradans, Cripple Creek is a mining town where
some of the most henious anti-labor, union-busting actvities
of the 19th century took place. Just 40 or so miles west of
Colorado Springs, and now a center of legalized gambling.