Teacher Fired For Supporting Pledge of Allegiance

Teacher Fired For Supporting Pledge of Allegiance

  29 Nov 2018

Just when you thought everyone in America would support anything patriotic, here comes yet another situation that proves anything but. One teacher in St. Louis, Missouri learned this the hard way when he had the audacity to thank students for reciting the pledge of allegiance. Crazy, but true! According to Law and Crime, Jim Furkin, a 66-year-old substitute teacher at Parkway South High School watched his class say the pledge, and then gave a small thank you upon their completion to the 22 (out of 24) students that did the pledge willingly. This small gesture got him fired.

It’s most unfortunate that we want American citizens to appreciate their home, respect their land, and value their place in American society, yet we turn around and openly punish those who display pride in the very country in which they live. Furkin did not say anything that condoned, reprimanded, or verbally punished those two students who failed to participate in the pledge. He only thanked those who voluntarily said the pledge on their own. “I only said thank you very much to all of you that participated,” Furkin said in sharing his words on that fateful day. “I’m sure all of those families that lost loved ones so we could have the freedoms we have today would appreciate that too,” he continued to say. That was it. Those words were enough to seal his doom from ever teaching at the school again.

At a time that American society is bombarded with propaganda, politics, and media that continue to promote division among the American people, one would think that Furkin’s actions would be commended and viewed as the ultimate in patriot acts. Instead, his action was not only punished, but it also sent a deadly message to students regarding their own patriotism. For one, it told the two students that refused to do the pledge that they were right: there is no patriotism worthy of being celebrated or acknowledged at this current time. Second, Furkin’s firing showed the students who did participate in the pledge that their patriotism is not appreciated in the very country they were showing their respect for. It is very unfortunate that this is what we are now teaching the younger generation.

It was reported that one of the two students who refused to do the pledge felt “singled out” and “bullied” by Furkin. The student also stated that they were hurt by his comments. Rather than the school using this opportunity to teach the student something about free speech the school instead used this as an opportunity to hide from the responsibility merely, only to then punish the cause behind their fears. “Furkin had a pattern of inappropriate conduct,” said the Parkway superintended, Keith Marty. “Additionally, his comments caused disruption during class,” Marty continued. Interesting that the disruption that was punished was that of American sharing sentiments about the country in which he lives.

The comments were not damaging to anything other than one student’s pride. Too bad that student’s pride did not include the country in which he resides. Equally bad is that we now live in a society that would rather punish someone for hurting someone else’s feelings than support them for upholding national pride.

 

11 thoughts on “Teacher Fired For Supporting Pledge of Allegiance”

  1. If people of this country don’t want to be patriotic then they should live in another country without their rights!

  2. Frankly, I’m very disappointed that this school is being run by morons and would punish a teacher for what they seem to consider a firing offense when it involves OUR NATIONAL PLEDGE OF ALLEGIAENCE. We have degraded the teaching of Civics, History of America and denigrate anyone who has a belief system that sounds like the very basis upon which our country was founded. The Libs will not be satisfied until they have destroyed everything about America that makes it unique and very special. And, do you think this qualifies as a “micro aggression” so feared by the Left. One student was spiritually crushed because he didn’t get an award for non participation…really? What kind of ninnies and babies are we raising in our country. And this school is preparing them to live in what fantasy world? What ever happened to national pride?

  3. I’m 87, a veteran, and a patriot. What really bothers me today is that those who deny others the freedom of speech here in a nation that has been respected throughout the world, because we have always respected that right, but now we have some who would not only deny others that right but brazenly either cause them to lose their jobs or try to make life unbearable for them. It is past time to start fighting back, we need to place the shoe on the other foot, and seek to have these people replaced. If they do not respect this nation then they can leave. It is obvious that there are many willing to enter [hopefully legally] to take their place. No one will stop them from leaving, and the nation would be better without them. I don’t know where they would go, but who cares? Chuck Adkins

  4. Given that I was raised in a large family (10), religion and patriotism very important issues. During the 1940’s and 1950’s families shared their evening meal together (large dining room table) and also shared the clean up duties. We shared events and thoughts of how our day was and it took about an hour before we were finished. There was also home made desert every evening.
    Today’s families have fewer children (some only 1), and two parents working full time. Their meals appear to be eat whatever, whenever without conversations. They don’t even need a dining room table. Most have a counter, and some fill their plate and eat in another room or in front of the TV. These days will likely never come back, as families today don’t appear to be one unit. Very sad.

  5. Times have certainly changed…….and not always for the better. As a Veteran who grew up in the 50’s, on a daily basis, we always recited the pledge of allegiance AND the Lord’s prayer in school. Today’s youth are growing up in a vacuum and are missing an important part of our heritage. This has led, in part, to much of the chaos our society witnesses today. I wonder if their school board meeting in St. Louis begins with the pledge? I am guessing….not. The termination of Mr. Furkin will send the wrong lesson to these High School students. If the school board is elected….maybe the electorate will remember this travesty.

  6. I definitely do not think the teacher should be fired, but the two students who refused to say the pledge should not be considered unpatriotic. That is a judgment call. I cannot read their minds. For all I know they may have a relative serving in our armed forces, and thus showing their own patriotism in a way that most of us do not. Maybe they’re Jehovah’s Witnesses and I believe years ago SCOTUS gave them an exemption as far as the pledge is concerned.

  7. Methinks Keith Marty is the one who should be seeking employment elsewhere. Perhaps he’d like to go to Cuba for some education on national pride. It appears our “education” system has been kidnapped by left-wing extremists.

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