#Letters to the Editor — Aug. 6, 2021

The Issue: Sen. Josh Hawley’s bill requiring schools to teach students the United States’ founding documents.

Josh Hawley’s “Love America” column was absolutely true (Post­Opinion, Aug. 2).

Parents have to make sure the school system teaches our children to respect and love our country. Students have to be taught to be proud Americans, instead of disrespecting our country and flag.

What good does it do to put a negative spin on the place where you live and plan to raise a family?

The left, which constantly puts our country down with its false rhetoric, is trying to distract you from the truth — anybody in this country can get an education and make something of themselves.

And as we quibble over petty things, believe me, Russia and China are watching and laughing.

Linda Shukofsky

Valley Stream

Hawley’s idea that schools “teach our kids the founding documents and principles of this country” is a fine idea in this retired teacher’s opinion.

But since Hawley also claims that “America needs the truth,” he should not mind if teachers point out that the final three words of the Pledge, proclaiming “justice for all,” are not true.

Richard Siegelman

Plainview

Finally, someone understands how to reshape the love for this country of our youth.

Teaching the Pledge of Allegiance, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are imperative to the education of our youth.

College professors are brainwashing our students in their vulnerable years to reject everything this country stands for. That needs to stop, and the silent majority need to stand up and voice their opinion, regardless of the backlash from the liberals.

As was the case with our founding fathers, we need to be able to agree to disagree and come to common ground. The pendulum has to stop swinging far left to far right and settle in the center, where we all can live with it.

James Murphy

Staten Island

What a great idea Sen. Hawley has.

First of all, the language in our founding document, and even the Pledge of Allegiance, is rich in vocabulary. Our language has been dumbed down. Reciting and exploring language that is full of meaning would enrich youthful minds, even if their first language is not English.

Teaching the principles on which this unique country is founded would not only teach them about where they live, but also how these ideas evolved through time.

As he says, “every school boy and girl has a right to claim this heritage as their own.” The problem is so many of our students have deliberately been denied the education to learn what their heritage is.

Catherine Adago

Manhattan

Hawley’s “convictions” are all well and good, but he seems to base what he wants our children to learn about the country on revisionist history.

For example, he contends that “we are the country that freed the slaves,” but he doesn’t want to emphasize that we needed a civil war and 600,000 deaths to do it.

He contends that “it isn’t a country of oppressors,” yet he speaks not of the Jim Crow laws that were designed for, and were successful in, suppression.

He contends that America is a country “founded on the worth and dignity of every individual” but conveniently forgets to include Dred Scott in that dis­cussion.

Lou Maione

Manhattan

When I was in the third grade, the first thing we did in class was stand at attention, facing the American flag with our hand over our heart, and proudly recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

I can still remember the pride and love I felt for my country repeating those words, which I still feel today.

What went wrong that this pledge is no longer required in the public-school system? Bring it back. We must have collective love and pride for our country taught at an early age, both at home and at school.

Susan Green

Manhattan

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