Every school day, students across the United States are told to stand and recite the Pledge. This tradition starts at an age before they are even able to understand what they are saying or why.
While pride in our nation is admirable, it should not be forced upon us, or our children. Children should not be forced into swearing allegiance to a nation before they even understand what their nation stands for.
Young children are taught the Pledge prior to even learning the basics of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights - the very thing that guarantees their right to choose whether or not to participate in the recitation.
For this reason, it is imperative for schools and its teachers to teach and remind its students that the Pledge is, in fact, not compulsory, but optional.