Law sought to require classroom flags

The Pledge of Allegiance, flag etiquette classes, the "In God We Trust" motto, and now, the Stars and Stripes and the Declaration of Independence—state legislators want to make schools more outwardly patriotic places.

Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, is drafting a bill that would require the display of the American flag and a copy of the Declaration of Independence in every public school classroom in Utah.

"This started off because a friend of mind did a little bit of research on college campuses and he couldn't find anybody who could tell him what the Constitution was, let alone what was in it — and these were college students," Christensen said.

"There's not a lot of patriotism going around out there," he said, contrasting controversy over the war in Iraq with patriotism of World War II. "We need to pass some of this on to the younger generations, what a truly special and wonderful thing our Constitution is and what a fabulous country we live in. We can't require they say the Pledge of Allegiance anymore, but anything we can do to teach the younger generations to truly revere the flag and at least know something about the Constitution, I would love that."

The bill does not require the Constitution be displayed in classrooms, but Christensen said he might add that provision, and maybe the Bill of Rights, to the bill's requirements.

But some educators wonder if the bill will have the desired effect.

"I always assumed that the state required the American flag be in every classroom — I've never been in a classroom without an American flag," said Mike Leavitt, a history teacher at Riverton High School. "I don't necessarily believe (the bill's requirements) would raise the level of awareness for patriotism or for our Constitution."

Many schools have a "freedom shrine" of historically significant documents. State law requires elementary students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily, though parents can excuse children from the exercise. Secondary schools are encouraged to do so weekly; the Granite Board of Education, for one, requires as much.

State law also requires schools to post the national motto, "In God We Trust." Several school districts received donations to buy framed depictions of the phrase; Christensen believes a similar outpouring would follow his bill.

The state core curriculum also includes flag education for elementary students and U.S. history and civics for older children.

Crestview Elementary principal Verneita Hunt says those lessons are taught.

"You can't make kids more patriotic," said Hunt, whose students have sent valentines to service men and women in Iraq in past years.