Pledging Allegiance: The Politics of Patriotism in American's Schools

by Joel Westheimer

Overview

What does it mean to be “patriotic” in the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001? And how have the prevailing notions of patriotism—loudly trumpeted in the American media—affected education in American schools? In this spirited book, renowned educational leaders and classroom practitioners answer these questions with insights, opinions, and hard facts. They focus on critical issues related to patriotism and democracy in education, including the social studies curriculum, military recruitment in schools, and student dissent.

Contributors: Bill Ayers • Michael Bader • Robby Cohen • Sharon Cook • Louis Ganzler • Gerald Graff • Diana Hess • Joseph Kahne • Robert Jensen • Gloria Ladson-Billings • Deborah Meier • Ellen Middaugh • Pedro Noguera • Cecilia O’Leary • Diane Ravitch • and Joel Westheimer; Commentators: Bill Bigelow • Héctor Calderón • Edwin C. Darden • Peter Dreier • Delaine Eastin • Chester E. Finn • Jr. • Dick Flacks • Maxine Greene • Joan Kent Kvitka • James W. Loewen • Walter Parker • Charles Payne • Cindy Sheehan • Karen Emily Suurtamm • Studs Terkel • Denise Walsh.

“What does it mean to be a democratic citizen? And what kind of education produces one? For the past two decades, Joel Westheimer has been one of North America’s most knowledgeable and able guides to these critical issues. Along the way, he has forced us to reconsider the larger goals and purposes of our public schools. His book will provide an invaluable roadmap for anyone who asks the big questions, no matter what they think of his answers.”
—Jonathan Zimmerman, New York University

“The essays in this book come at a critical moment and should be welcomed by anyone who is concerned that the values of peace, of democracy, be held high by the coming generation.”
—From the Foreword by Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States

“A valuable sourcebook for those who are uncertain about what patriotism is and, even more, for those who are certain that they know.”
—Howard Gardner,author of Five Minds for the Future

“By bringing together diverse and often divergent perspectives of patriotism, Pledging Allegiance opens to critical scrutiny the very idea of loyalty to a country. In doing so, it not only offers a useful educational resource but also performs a valuable political service. I can’t think of many books more likely to stimulate deep reflection and spirited discussion, and these activities, after all, are integral to democracy itself.”
—Alfie Kohn, author of What Does It Mean to Be Well Educated?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807775530
Publisher:	Teachers College Press
Publication date:	11/23/2016
Series:	Teaching for Social Justice Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	18 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Joel Westheimer is Professor and University Research Chair in Democracy and Education at the University of Ottawa and co-director of DemocraticDialogue.com. He is the author of numerous articles on education and author of Among School Teachers: Community, Autonomy, and Ideology in Teachers' Work (Teachers College Press).

Table of Contents

Foreword   Howard Zinn     xi
Acknowledgments     xvii
Introduction     1
Once Upon a Time When Patriotism Was What You Did   Gloria Ladson-Billings     13
No Black in the Union Jack: The Ambivalent Patriotism of Black Americans   Charles M. Payne     21
Educators in the War on Terrorism   Pedro Noguera   Robby Cohen     25
"Children Are the Living Message We Send to a Time We Will Not See"   Delaine Eastin     35
The Psychology of Patriotism   Michael J. Bader     39
Second Fiddle to Fear   Denise Walsh     45
On Patriotism and the Yankees: Lessons Learned From Being a Fan   Deborah Meier     49
Patriotism, Nationalism, and Our Jobs as Americans   James W. Loewen     61
Another Way to Teach Politically Without P.C.: Teaching the Debate About Patriotism   Gerald Graff     65
Pledging Allegiance   Walter C. Parker     71
Patriotism Is a Bad Idea at a Dangerous Time   Robert Jensen     75
Patriotism Makes Kids Stupid   Bill Bigelow     87
Celebrating America   Diane Ravitch     91
Teaching Patriotism-with Conviction   Chester E. Finn Jr.     95
Hearts and Minds: Military Recruitment and the High School Battlefield   William Ayers     99
Weapons of Fatal Seduction: Latinos and the Military   Hector Calderon     109
A Small Space of Sanity   Studs Terkel     113
Is Patriotism Good for Democracy?   Joseph Kahne   Ellen Middaugh     115
I Solemnly Swear   Joan Kent Kvitka     127
Patriotism and Ideological Diversity in the Classroom   Diana Hess   Louis Ganzler     131
Toeing the Line and the Law: First Amendment Rights in Schools   Karen Emily Suurtamm   Edwin C. Garden, Esq.     139
"Patriotism, Eh?" The Canadian Version   Sharon Anne Cook     145
Patriot Acts: This Isn't the First Time   Cecilia O'Leary     153
Patriotism's Secret History   Peter Dreier   Dick Flacks     165
Politics and Patriotism in Education   Joel Westheimer     171
Poetry and Patriotism   Maxine Greene     189
Patriotism by the Numbers   Cindy Sheehan     191
Resources for Educators     195
Notes     198
About the Editor and Contributors      207
Index     213

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"What does it mean to be a democratic citizen? And what kind of education produces one? For the past two decades, Joel Westheimer has been one of North America's most knowledgeable and able guides to these critical issues. Along the way, he has forced us to reconsider the larger goals and purposes of our public schools. His book will provide an invaluable roadmap for anyone who asks the big questions, no matter what they think of his answers."
— Jonathan Zimmerman
Professor of Education and History
New York University

“The essays in this book come at a critical moment and should be welcomed by anyone who is concerned that the values of peace, of democracy, be held high by the coming generation.”
—From the Foreword by Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States

“A valuable sourcebook for those who are uncertain about what patriotism is and, even more, for those who are certain that they know.”
Howard Gardner, Harvard University, author of Five Minds for the Future

“By bringing together diverse and often divergent perspectives of patriotism, Pledging Allegiance opens to critical scrutiny the very idea of loyalty to a country. In doing so, it not only offers a useful educational resource but also performs a valuable political service. I can’t think of many books more likely to stimulate deep reflection and spirited discussion, and these activities, after all, are integral to democracy itself.”
Alfie Kohn, author of What Does It Mean to Be Well Educated?

“A powerful and timely account of the struggles between authoritarian and democratic patriotism in the schools.”
David Tyack, Stanford University

“This volume is a must-read for educators, organizers, lawyers, youth, activists, and those who have politically fallen asleep in the 21st century. Joel Westheimer is to be congratulated for gathering such an incredible group of writers who dare to imagine what could be, in the ashes of what is.”
Michelle Fine, The Graduate Center - City University of New York

“Asks hard questions about what it means to ask the most of our country—and how we can teach this in our schools. Offers strong reflections and perspectives on the fundamental stories about our country that we tell our future citizens.”
Paul Loeb, author of Soul of a Citizen

“Joel Westheimer has brought together a fine and thoughtful collection of essays that probe the perhaps inevitable but nevertheless deeply problematic role of patriotism in a democratic society.”
Frances Fox Piven, Graduate School and University Center, CUNY

“Reading this splendid book will prevent you from ever taking the pledge of allegiance casually. The rituals and compulsions that bind us to national loyalties have seldom been better dissected.”
Andrew Ross, New York University

"Is patriotism compatible with democratic education or citizenship? Taking on civic educators' most enduring questions, Pledging Allegiance is a primer in how to enrich civic education for today's youth. What could be more patriotic?"
—Daniel Perlstein, University of California, Berkeley

13

Editorial Reviews

The Pledge of Allegiance is just 31 words long, but even though many adults can't recite it, this century-old school ritual remains a lightning rod of controversy about the meaning of patriotism. In Pledging Allegiance, 13 contributors explore the real meaning of patriotism in the post-9/11 world. The contributors include Diane Ravitch, Cindy Sheehan, and Studs Terkel. Howell Zinn wrote the foreword.