School Board Discusses Adding State Pledge

“There’s time to teach 18 words to students and have them realize that hey, we do have a North Carolina flag,” Holmes said.

Holmes suggested during the board’s work session on Monday that students recite the salute daily following the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag.

The board did not reach a consensus on the issue, but the rest of the board agreed to put it up for a vote during its business meeting on March 13.

“I certainly see the value of the national Pledge of Allegiance,” said board member Ken Benway. “We’ve pledged the ultimate allegiance, if you will, to our nation. I’m not sure what the state pledge adds to that.”

Chair Robert Levy pointed out that students can’t be forced to recite the national Pledge or a state salute.

“If they don’t want to say it, then they don’t want to say it, but I think we would be remiss in not even offering them the chance to learn it,” Holmes countered.

Superintendent Tim Locklair said that while schools fly the state flag on the main campus flagpole, it is not hung in every classroom around the district. The state’s standard course of study directs focus to North Carolina history in grades four and eight.

“Perhaps since we go over it in fourth and eighth grade, we could have the fourth graders and eighth graders recite it every day,” said board member Shannon Davis.

Vice Chair David Hensley also opened a discussion of whether the district should continue to observe Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and the Month of the Military Child. Hensley criticized those observances as “divisive,” exclusionary and unrelated to academics.

“My argument against Month of the Military Child is that it excludes everyone who isn’t a military child. You could not possibly recognize every single child whose parents are in a dangerous job,” said Hensley, a retired Marine officer.

“It’s a fool’s errand and what it is is a reflection of identity politics that’s seeped its way into the schools.”

The district celebrates the Month of the Military Child in April with events like “Purple Up” day to recognize children from military families, and recognition of its Purple Star-designated schools that have demonstrated a commitment to serving those students.

It has also traditionally hosted its annual Military Family Forum in April. Community organizations have gotten involved with events like a book drive organized by the Military Officers Association of America’s Sandhills chapter.

Board member Stacey Caldwell, a former elementary school teacher, described Black History Month as more of an opportunity for educators to weave Black historical figures and issues into their lessons.

“When we have Black History Month, it’s not that we take the whole month and discuss that,” she said.

Board member Pauline Bruno, though, said that teachers shouldn’t need a specific commemoration to cover important minority figures.

“You just get the idea that this month we’re honoring these people so everybody else is out of the loop,” she said. ”But they’re all teaching moments to incorporate that all in, whether it’s November or April, no matter what.”

Board chair Robert Levy also expressed reservations about any potential change to how schools celebrate minority heritage.

“There is a public relations situation with regards to such things,” he said. “I’m not so sure that African-Americans in our community would like us to necessarily change that, and they do have a say-so.”

He was also confident that teachers are applying Black History Month in an appropriate context. Levy maintained that the schools should be “as colorblind as possible” and blamed the political shift toward focusing on specific minority interests for clouding a valuable educational opportunity.

“Quite frankly, five years ago I wouldn't have thought anything about African-American history month,” he said. “Let’s have all kids learn a little bit more about African-American history and the like.”

The board did not reach a consensus on that issue or schedule it for a future vote.