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Message
Students get failing grades for not leading the Pledge of Allegiance "properly"
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:29 am
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:29 am
quote:
When the Pledge of Allegiance is read at West High School, Derek Giardina leaves two words out: “under God.”
It is a personal choice for the 17-year-old junior, who says he is uncomfortable with a religious proclamation within the oath of fealty to America. However, his personal views came into conflict with the school recently.
Derek Giardina is part of Shauna Baker’s speech and debate class this quarter. Students in the class are charged with the responsibility to read the daily announcements, and the pledge, over the loudspeaker to everyone at the school. Reading the announcements is a graded assignment.
In early October, the third time he had read the announcements, the Wolf Pack junior omitted “under God” and was marked down for doing so.
“I’m failing because of it,” Derek Giardina said in an interview Oct. 28.
He didn’t find out that Baker had given him a poor grade for the assignment until his mother, Tammy Giardina, went online to look at her son’s grades two weeks later. Tammy Giardina immediately emailed Baker.
“He will not be allowed to do the bulletin unless he does the Pledge of Allegiance properly,” she said Baker wrote to her in response.
Derek Giardina said that after his mother’s email exchange, the teacher spoke to him privately.
“She had told me, if we don’t say the pledge properly, we’ll get suspended and kicked out of the class,” he said.
quote:
“When you’re leading the pledge, you’re representing the school,” Strube said in an interview Monday . “I would say it’s not appropriate to leave it out when you are leading it for 2,000 people.”
Strube said that student privacy laws prevented him from speaking directly about Derek Giardina’s case, but in general, if students feel uncomfortable saying “under God,” they can get an alternate assignment.
“I’ve spoken to Shauna Baker about this, and she gives students that option up front. It’s not done after the fact,” Strube said. “When you accept that assignment, you are accepting to read the pledge how it is written.”
Derek Giardina admitted that Baker offered him another assignment when she spoke with him privately, but he rejected the alternative.
“I felt like she wouldn’t grade me properly,” he said, adding that reading the announcements was a more objective way to earn a good grade.
LINK
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:32 am to Green Chili Tiger
I agree with the teacher.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:38 am to Green Chili Tiger
quote:
Reading the announcements is a graded assignment.
What kind of school is this? Talk about grade inflation....
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:43 am to Green Chili Tiger
Maybe the class should debate the issue, good topic.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:47 am to PuntBamaPunt
quote:
Maybe the class should debate the issue, good topic.
The fact that these students were part of a speech and debate class is what I found interesting about this story.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:49 am to Green Chili Tiger
quote:
"I'm failing because of it" said Derek Giardina in an interview Oct. 28.
Damn, what percentage of his grade is based on reading the bulletin?
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:54 am to shinerfan
quote:
"I'm failing because of it" said Derek Giardina in an interview Oct. 28.
quote:
Damn, what percentage of his grade is based on reading the bulletin?
Exactly.
Its obvious thats its a school for future anchormen and anchorwomen.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:55 am to Green Chili Tiger
Good. This is America. Be an American.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:58 am to goatmilker
quote:clear exaggeration to gain attention
"I'm failing because of it" said Derek Giardina in an interview Oct. 28.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 9:58 am to Green Chili Tiger
quote:
I’ve spoken to Shauna Baker about this, and she gives students that option up front. It’s not done after the fact,” Strube said. “When you accept that assignment, you are accepting to read the pledge how it is written.” Derek Giardina admitted that Baker offered him another assignment when she spoke with him privately, but he rejected the alternative.
Hard to feel sorry for him.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 10:10 am to Green Chili Tiger
So, according to Derek's line of thinking he should not be a proponent of cash money. You know, with the "in God we trust" motto written on it.
I wonder how many cash presents he has turned down because of those four little words?
I wonder how many cash presents he has turned down because of those four little words?
Posted on 11/10/14 at 11:10 am to Homesick Tiger
I appreciate it when someone makes the argument that handling a piece of cloth paper with words on it is somehow equivalent to swearing a solemn oath that you believe something and will act upon that belief. Let's me know who I shouldn't take terribly seriously going forward.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 11:15 am to Green Chili Tiger
quote:Case closed.
Derek Giardina admitted that Baker offered him another assignment when she spoke with him privately, but he rejected the alternative.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 11:48 am to Blue Velvet
quote:Without knowing what the alternative assignment was, I would think not.
Case closed.
And even if it was a neutral one, it's an unequal burden. If his "alternative assignment" is to write a five-page paper while his classmates get to collect the full grade for saying "under God" then I'm still calling bullshite.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 11:51 am to Green Chili Tiger
I leave out those words when I say the pledge too.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 11:58 am to Green Chili Tiger
I agree with the teacher as well!!
Posted on 11/10/14 at 12:03 pm to Iosh
Take it up with the U.S. congress. Atheists leading reenlistment oathes in the military don't get to omit the words either.
Posted on 11/10/14 at 12:03 pm to Green Chili Tiger
quote:I morally side with the student, but I find the school's alternative offer to be reasonable.
Derek Giardina admitted that Baker offered him another assignment when she spoke with him privately, but he rejected the alternative.
ETA: Assuming the assignment was similarly easy/difficult.
This post was edited on 11/10/14 at 12:06 pm
Posted on 11/10/14 at 12:05 pm to C
quote:
Atheists leading reenlistment oathes in the military don't get to omit the words either.
Link?
Posted on 11/10/14 at 12:40 pm to MSMHater
quote:
Hard to feel sorry for him.
This. He comes across as just another whiny athiest trying to be a victim.
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