> > Do they still make kids say the "Pledge of Allegance"? All through grade school it was mandatory at the beginning of the day for the entire class in unison to recite the pledge to the flag. Regardless of individual beliefs, everyone would have to say the "...one nation, under God..." part.
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> Very shortly after I got out of grade school, the "under God" part was removed from the Pledge of Allegiance in most places. Now I don't think most schools recite it at all. Apparently patriotism is too controversial a matter, too.

We have always been required to recite the pledge, observe a moment of silence, and, in my elementary school, sing "My Country 'Tis Of Thee" before the start of every school day. It used to be that you'd get detention for not doing everything. At least by the time I got to high school the they were more lax. So long as you kept quiet while that stuff was going on, you were fine.