Texas High-school Student Failed for Refusing to Recite Mexican Pledge of Allegiance

[Constitutional Paulicy]

http://www.thenewamerican.com/media/k2/items/cache/6a6924426f0f5679ad76c145c71ab412_L.jpg

Texas High-school Student Failed for Refusing to Recite Mexican Pledge of Allegiance
Thursday, 28 February 2013 12:52
Written by Dave Bohon


A Texas high-school student is suing her local school district after she was punished for refusing to stand and recite Mexico's pledge of allegiance as part of a Spanish class assignment. The lawsuit charges that the McAllen Independent School District violated 15-year-old Brenda Brinsdon’s constitutional guarantees when her Spanish teacher required her to recite the Mexican pledge and sing its national anthem, and gave her a failing grade when she refused.

Ironically, the McAllen school district has a policy that allows students to opt out of reciting both the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence if the student “as determined by the district, has a conscientious objection to the recitation.” Also ironic was the fact that the assignment in which Brindson refused to participate was given during the school’s celebration of Freedom Week, which observed the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, and also on U.S. Constitution Day.

more here.... http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/14643-texas-high-school-student-punished-for-refusing-to-recite-mexican-pledge

[Humanae Libertas]

Yeah, pledge to a murderous government. No thanks.

[Smart3]

Six years of Spanish and I was never required to do this.

TAKE THAT TEXAS!

[Athan]

Sure, we have a full on drug cartel problem with Zetas and Gulf Cartel shooting it out in a turf war in the same county as McAllen (Hidalgo Co.) yet its THIS is what gets national news finally. Another day in the Rio Grande Valley, Tejas.

I guess it does hit the "yeah, this pisses me off as an American" threshold though.

[jbauer]

Well hell, I think we should all do all the pledges for all the ethicities in this country. We'll become the best signing country in the world and finally when they play the songs at the olympics we'll all know the words.

[satchelmcqueen]

im glad she stood her ground.

[Natural Citizen]

May want to follow up on it and pay attention to any future rulings. The Christians dropped the ball on the other case, also in Texas, where a judge ruled that Religous views were secular. Was a monumantal ruling.

[talkingpointes]

Yeah, pledge to a murderous government. No thanks.

Murderous government is redundant. What government doesn't kill, *cough* I mean dispense justice.

[LibertyEagle]

That ticks me off to no end. I called my state Senator about it.

[Athan]

Guys we have MEXICAN MILITARY HELICOPTERS violating our airspace in these border counties. Which can in some cases be considered an act of war. They blow it off because they claim "it was a mistake". How do you not know when you are crossing into another country with a giant ass river and metal fence as the border?

[Smart3]

Murderous government is redundant. What government doesn't kill, *cough* I mean dispense justice.

Luxembourg?

[Lucille]

The activity was part of what the school's Spanish teacher, Reyna Santos, required of all her Spanish level 3 students in order to pass the class. But when the time came for the students to pay homage to their neighboring country to the south, Brindson remained seated. It's not that the young lady has any problem with Mexico or its people. After all, while she was born in the United States, her mother is a Mexican immigrant. “Brenda is fluent in Spanish and English and is proud of her Mexican heritage,” related the TMLC, “but she is a true blooded American. So to Brenda, the words of the pledge have a deep meaning. Her conscience and patriotism would not allow her to participate in the assignment.”

Good for her! Gonzalo Lira (http://gonzalolira.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-sorrow-and-rage-of-schoolhouse.html) would be very happy to hear that.


According to the TMLC, Brindson's refusal was met with a strong negative response by Santos and the school's principal, Yvette Cavasos. “Both tried to coerce her to recite the Mexican pledge, saying this was just an assignment,” recalled an account by the law center. “Brenda attempted to discuss reasons for her refusal to pledge allegiance to a country other than the United States with both Santos and Cavasos. When Brenda did not back down, she was punished.”

While Brindson offered to recite the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish as an alternative to reciting the Mexican pledge, Santos instead assigned her to research and write on Mexico's independence, for which she was given 13 out of 100 points — a failing grade — although by all accounts the essay was above average. Additionally, she was required to sit in class over several days listening to student after student reciting the Mexican pledge.

“Following the incident,” related TMLC, “Brenda was involuntarily removed from her Spanish class. She spent the class hour in the school’s office, even though she requested to return to the classroom. Brenda was also given a failing grade on her report card” — a mark that was later raised as the school realized Brindson and her father were going to file a lawsuit.

What a bunch of assholes. Public school is child abuse.

[nano1895]

Hey, teacher. Leave that kid alone. Jeez.

[wormyguy]

Now, I generally take the side of the student in these sorts of stories. But in this case, it sounds to me like the Spanish teacher had her students memorize and recite a well-known Spanish text as an assignment, and a lazy student didn't do the assignment, got failed, and then complained to the media about it. My sympathy here is limited.

[Professor8000]

I hope that this incident doesn't cause you to fall into the collectivist trap and use this as evidence to form a bias against the people of Texas.

[Keith and stuff]

Now, I generally take the side of the student in these sorts of stories. But in this case, it sounds to me like the Spanish teacher had her students memorize and recite a well-known Spanish text as an assignment, and a lazy student didn't do the assignment, got failed, and then complained to the media about it. My sympathy here is limited.

Government k-12 schools shouldn't force students to learn a 2nd language in schools in the US.

[wormyguy]

Government k-12 schools shouldn't force students to learn a 2nd language in schools in the US.

Where I'm from, languages are electives (as well as a valuable and useful skill, unlike much of what is taught in high school). Also the student in question is in high school and so is free to drop out if she really has a problem with "government k-12 schools."

[Valli6]

Now, I generally take the side of the student in these sorts of stories. But in this case, it sounds to me like the Spanish teacher had her students memorize and recite a well-known Spanish text as an assignment, and a lazy student didn't do the assignment, got failed, and then complained to the media about it. My sympathy here is limited.
They were expected to raise their right hand, palm down, (sig hiel style) to recite the pledge. They also had to stand and sing Mexico's national anthem. The student offered to say our own pledge of allegience in spanish, but the teacher didn't find that acceptable. The teacher, principal and school board people involved all happen to have Mexican-sounding names. Besides being anti-American, it's bullying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO1BlsQopTQ


Dallas Democratic State Representative Roberto Alonzo said to question the loyalty of the teacher and school district is unfair.
"This is a class," Alonzo said. "This is not doing allegiance to Mexico, it's not you know you are going to be part of Mexico, this is just a class to learn Spanish - to learn an aspect of what is Texas."
http://www.wfaa.com/news/texas-news/Texas-high-school-students-say-Mexican-pledge-sing-anthem-One-refuses-134287008.html
Sounds like Roberto Alonzo believes loyalty to Mexico is "an aspect of what is Texas."

[The Goat]

Santos instead assigned her to research and write on Mexico's independence

I think the teacher needs to realize she is teaching Spanish as a language and not Mexico history.

[heavenlyboy34]

Government k-12 schools shouldn't force students to learn a 2nd language in schools in the US.
I dunno, it's actually a practical skill-especially trade languages like Spanish. Wasn't Latin a standard part of US education in the 18th-19th centuries? IDR

As mentioned earlier, when the kid is in a government school, the regime sets the rules. Pull the kid out of school if it's objectionable to the parent.

[heavenlyboy34]

I think the teacher needs to realize she is teaching Spanish as a language and not Mexico history.
Indeed. But language is wrapped up in culture in many ways (idioms, colloquialisms, conversational speech, etc). But in a general Spanish class, Spanish culture should be taught. I always got education in basic Russian culture when I took Russian.

[Keith and stuff]

Indeed. But language is wrapped up in culture in many ways (idioms, colloquialisms, conversational speech, etc). But in a general Spanish class, Spanish culture should be taught. I always got education in basic Russian culture when I took Russian.

Wouldn't Spanish culture be the Spanish Pledge of Allegiance? Mexico ain't Spain.

[Keith and stuff]

As mentioned earlier, when the kid is in a government school, the regime sets the rules. Pull the kid out of school if it's objectionable to the parent.
Not where I live. A parent is allowed to exempt their children from any lesson they have an issue with in NH.

[heavenlyboy34]

Won't Spanish culture be the Spanish Pledge of Allegiance?
Perhaps, but not necessarily. (Does Spain have such a thing?) It is reasonable to learn national anthems (silly as they are) and important songs, literature, etc though, as that kind of thing is important to culture and language. For better or worse (worse IMO), nationalism has strongly driven human action for 300 years or so now.

Mexico ain't Spain.
Which is why it makes more sense to teach Spanish culture in a Spanish class than Mexican to me.

[heavenlyboy34]

Not where I live. A parent is allowed to exempt their children from any lesson they have an issue with in NH.
Nice! :)

[QuickZ06]

That is a lot of anthems to still go over.......


Spanish is an official language in 20 sovereign states and one dependent entity

[Carson]

Or we could assert our right to vote and own land.


As we can see their other Mexican President, Felipe Calderon just recently made a speech. Here are a couple of quotes he made.


Quote: “"Mexico does not end at the border," he said. "Wherever there is a Mexican, Mexico will be there."

"There is a gradual re-taking of territories that were in hands of criminals, and with it, the re-establishment of order," he said. “

~Mexican President Felipe Calderon

[heavenlyboy34]

That is a lot of anthems to still go over.......
Indeed! :eek:

[UMULAS]

.......

[Athan]

Fine, make the teacher squeal. I don't care. I think it is bogus reason to fail the student as well, almost everyone who is a native here speaks spanish pretty well anyway.