I said no for reasons similar to Tempus and Colanth: students should learn about different religions and religious beliefs, so you can't excise all mentions of "God" from public education without erasing significant and important areas of study, even for atheists. (Know thy enemy, anyone?) It's also very difficult to understand certain portions of history without an understanding of the religious cultures that led to the events described, or to be able to read certain literature without understanding the religious beliefs of the culture it came out of.
Now, while in a perfect world, I don't think students should be made to sing songs or recite pledges that imply a belief in some supernatural entity, I don't favor trying to get rid of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance or kicking "God Bless America" out of schools. This is a saving-the-bullets strategy; proposals of those sort tend to merely piss people off, and if I have to piss people off, I'd rather piss them off when it comes to things like making sure valid scientific theories are taught in science class, or making sure students get comprehensive sexual education, or prohibiting compulsory prayer. You know, things that matter more than the empty ritual that a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is. Seriously, how many students actually give a flying fuck what's in the Pledge, or see it as anything other than a mumbled piece of mumbo-jumbo that they have to get through before getting on with the day?
Now, while in a perfect world, I don't think students should be made to sing songs or recite pledges that imply a belief in some supernatural entity, I don't favor trying to get rid of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance or kicking "God Bless America" out of schools. This is a saving-the-bullets strategy; proposals of those sort tend to merely piss people off, and if I have to piss people off, I'd rather piss them off when it comes to things like making sure valid scientific theories are taught in science class, or making sure students get comprehensive sexual education, or prohibiting compulsory prayer. You know, things that matter more than the empty ritual that a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is. Seriously, how many students actually give a flying fuck what's in the Pledge, or see it as anything other than a mumbled piece of mumbo-jumbo that they have to get through before getting on with the day?
"But the gods plainly do exist," said a priest.
"It Is Not Evident," [said Dorfl].
A bolt of lightning lanced through the clouds and hit Dorfl's helmet. There was a sheet of flame and then a trickling noise. Dorfl's molten armor formed puddles around his white-hot feet.
"I Don't Call That Much Of An Argument," said Dorfl calmly, from somewhere in the clouds of smoke.
-- Terry Pratchett, Feet of Clay
"It Is Not Evident," [said Dorfl].
A bolt of lightning lanced through the clouds and hit Dorfl's helmet. There was a sheet of flame and then a trickling noise. Dorfl's molten armor formed puddles around his white-hot feet.
"I Don't Call That Much Of An Argument," said Dorfl calmly, from somewhere in the clouds of smoke.
-- Terry Pratchett, Feet of Clay
