On patriotism in schools

I taught the math half of a math/physics combination class for two years at a small progressive high school. At my very first staff meeting there, one of the topics for discussion was whether the teachers and/or daily announcements should lead students in the Pledge of Allegiance. The teachers in general didn't have much interest in it; the principal pointed out that schools are required by law to include some sort of "daily patriotic observance," but doesn't specify which.

At that point I stood up and said "Every day I teach math to young Americans to prepare some of them for a career in the sciences and help all of them learn better critical thinking and decision-making skills. I can't imagine anything more patriotic than what I'm already doing." That got a fair bit of applause. We never bothered with the Pledge.