by Ernest Smartt

Created on: July 09, 2009   Last Updated: July 11, 2009

When you walk into many public schools in America, you will see banners and flags related to the school's pride. That is a wonderful thing to see, and it seems to make one feel a sense of pride just being there. When the trophy case is filled and clean, you sense school spirit and determination. If the trophies are mostly dated within the last 2-5 years, it is clear that something great is happening in that school. Chances are that school has a history of high academic scores as well.

When you walk into the offices of that school you will likely see plaques and photos and other signs and symbols of school pride. These are indications of a school that is making progress on behalf of their students in academics and extracurricular activities. Often the trophies are not just for sports, but include academic competition winners.

Where there is a spirit of pride, there is also a high standard regarding every aspect of the institution.Too often the spirit and enthusiasm stops at this level. The school may be recognized by the city, county or even the state, but it is usually all about the school. What would happen if these schools began to teach about city, state, and national patriotism? What if the schools were teaching the students to love the place where they live? It is clear that patriotic pride is not being taught, or in many cases even addressed in the curriculum of the schools in America.

Walk into the classrooms of most schools, and you will often discover there is no American flag displayed anywhere in them. Often there may be a paper flag stuck to the wall. If there is a flag, it will usually be one of those little ones that you get free at a fourth of July celebration, and the stick is taped to the wall to hold it up. Quite often you drive by schools and not even see an American or state flag displayed for public viewing on the flag pole. Should patriotism be included in the curriculum of American public schools? Would it make any difference in the academic, ethical and moral standards of those institutions?

There was a time when seeing the American flag was cause for pride. There was a time when heroes were usually connected to some patriotic effort. There was a time when standing to say the Pledge to the flag was a matter of pride, now the most significant discussions surrounding the Pledge are about the right to not say the pledge at all, and even not standing while it is being said.

We should teach national patriotism in American schools.

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