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.
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This post is dedicated to Fiona and the hard time she is having transiting into an American public school. The Pledge is something I didn’t even think about. When she mentioned the thing that her class does each morning with their hand on their heart it brought up a discussion between Orcun, Fiona and I. As you can see, Orcun had to do one as a child too. Fiona has to do it in grade 2 but we don’t do it at my school, grades 9-12. I haven’t asked why yet. It is something that we both really feel necessary for Fiona to say but we told her to stand, put her hand on her chest and be respectful. Be respectful because that is what we do when we are in other cultures.
The US is a foreign country to my family. We may blend in (esp me and the girls) but we are not used to things like this. Fiona has had all of her schooling at XIS so XIS is the way things are done! At her new school they only have 1 recess. At XIS they had 3-4. No microwaves at the new school! And no teacher helpers! No foreign language class. It is a big difference and as social as Fiona is, she is having a hard time. One day at a time!
As for me, it is fucking hard too. The school I am at couldn’t be any more different then what I am used to. My classes are big (27-30), some kids love art and want to be there, some don’t give a shit and they let you know. I had a student tell me today that she has her period and just doesn’t feel like saying hi to me. It is her right not to say hi and she is going to tell me “straight up like it is”. Another student has his neck tattooed with his nephew’s name. Another student is 6 months pregnant.
Sorry for so many words and not many photos. I feel like the honeymoon is already over. I just keep telling myself one day at a time.
drinking from the faucet 
I once taught in a very progressive K-3 school with a wonderful faculty and administrator. We didn’t do the pledge everyday. Our principal believed that was placing it on level with reciting a nursery rhyme. Starting in grade 2, he spent a week with each class – raising the flag and teaching them the meaning of the pledge – to understand what they are saying, not just recite it. It had a real impact on me and I’ve always thought of it in previous schools – and also the fact that we force little guys to do it and yet it is forgotten once they leave elementary….and no one seems to mind – however got to keep those little people making that pledge……Interesting observations – and all so very true – xo
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I love reading this! It makes me open my eyes and is helping me to reiterate some things that I know will affect my kids as well. I sing the Star Spangled Banner to my girls since they were born as bed time song. Many have told me that is weird. I sand it at first because I truly like the words and song but then at a baseball game once when Saraval was 2 and a few months she knew the words and was awed that so many others did. We have read about it many different ways and times since then. Thank you Anne for sharing and helping me to prepare for our trek back in a few years!
As for public school teaching, that was my grade 8 class numerous times! At least you have High School kids right?! Once you reach them, as I know you will, things will get much easier but those kids make you earn your stripes for sure. Prayers for the girls!! and all of you of course!
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It must be very hard…this cultural difference…When we came from Brasil Fernanda and Flavio were 5 and 7 and Flavio had a big difficulty in adapting, coming from a very fancy private school and going to Coconut Grove Elementary with a diversified population, new language and costumes…For me and my husband was hard too….We went and enrolled in the Sinagogue because being Jewish we thought we would feel more confortable….but the American Jews saw us as Latin American…even that we were not Latin, but Brazilian…But one day at a time and we the years we learned to live in America….I still am attached to Brazil, but feel half and half!! Good luck… the kids adapt faster and soon all will be fine…kisses Sylvia(Fernanda’s Mom)
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