Three years ago, the Social Studies teachers at Eastern Middle School realized that their student body was less patriotic than ever before. The teachers decided it would be a positive change to begin each day by playing the National Anthem and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Students were instructed on the meanings behind the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance and were taught the proper etiquette that needed to be displayed.

It has been encouraging to watch the transformation for the students at Eastern Middle School . Each morning when the announcement is made to rise for the National Anthem, students and staff immediately stop what they are doing, and face one of the many flags in the building. The school, as a whole, then recites the Pledge of Allegiance in unison, creating an inspirational moment. The belief at Eastern Middle School is that students need to develop habits of the heart within students.

Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States, once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extension. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

The students at Eastern Middle School begin each school day with the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance to promote the idea of patriotism.
https://www.newsdemocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Pledge.jpgThe students at Eastern Middle School begin each school day with the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance to promote the idea of patriotism. Submitted photo

Staff Report