Is this an appropriate response from a government teacher?

adults are children 

don't be a dick and stand up for the pledge

This.

Edit: Not that you have to stand, but you are clearly doing something different to draw attention as a form of protest. Don't be surprised when you get a response, be it a civil one or an angry response. She has a right to be angry at you and you have a right to be a dick about it.

I've always felt weird reciting the pledge during the local pro-wrestling shows in my town.  It's sort of a silly occasion to get all patriotic.

Bitch is as bitch does. 

@example1013 said:

@pewpewlazer said:

While she's being ignorant by enforcing America's beliefs on you. You should at least have a level of respect for the country and the soldiers that actually uphold it's pledge so you have a high school to attend and be an immature brat about not appreciating it. 

Like you said it's not you're choice you were born here. 

It's not some poor African kid's choice he's raised in a Libyan conflict, is given an AK when he's 9 years old, or die of starvation, but all you have to do is stand up for a shitty patriotic theme song. 

You were both wrong.

This is retarded. Do you really think that those soldiers are fighting to protect freedom of expression just for everyone to turn around and make such an action socially unacceptable? If someone consciously decides to fight for the right to disagree, I'd think that person would prefer vocal disagreement over silence in supposed respect. The idea that you have to obey everyone else to show your love for freedom of expression is nonsensical and hypocritical.

Do none of you who are claiming the OP to be wrong actually even understand the argument you're making?

Over the course of this thread I think you've sort of liquidated all of your arguments by showing how ignorant and aggressive you are at proving your point.

Like a 13 year old kid you ignore other people's points to get yours across, I surely hope you are 13 otherwise I feel really bad for you and whatever friends still stick around to put up with you.

You need to re-read my post before you make a response, the point is they were both wrong and so were you (That makes three stupid people now). Not about not standing up at the pledge but philosophically, if you can grasp this yet.

Don't stand for the pledge if you don't want to, but don't be a dick about it either. A healthy balance!

You're a douche. I'm with the teacher on this one. If you hate it so much gtfo. 

It strikes me as bizarre that our general consensus of places like North Korea is negative, seemingly based on strange acts of nationalism and ritual, yet when we do it, it's all well and good.

She is very, very out of place. You are also somewhat, but believe me, it is not enough to condone her actions, or even actions of someone getting upset with you over it. You live in America, customs are important when being in any country, but some things you just don't have to do.

It strikes me as bizarre that our general consensus of places like North Korea is negative, seemingly based on strange acts of nationalism and ritual, yet when we do it, it's all well and good.

I wouldn't say the pledge. I would probably stand up, simply to avoid conflict. But I don't think that anyone here can tell you that you should have stood up. 

If the thought of someone not standing up for the recital of a poem makes you threaten them with this "get the fuck out!" talk, then you have way too much fucking free time in your life.

Uh, she isn't a government employee, shes a employee of a public school which gets funding from state and federal agencies but is not part of any government.  So right there I think you are wrong in your thinking.And unless your a citizen of another country, not standing up for something as basic as a pledge makes you one of those kids who tries to be different by doing the dumbest things possible.  And by making a thread like this, it really does help mark you as an attention whore.

i cant for the life of me figure out why you wouldnt at least stand up. it has to be partially becuase you are to young to really understand how lucky you are to be born here. and how many people have fought and died to make sure you have those freedoms. i disagree with a shitload of stuff we do here in america. i guarantee whatever you think is wrong with our country is the same everywhere. the grass isnt always greener.

i cant for the life of me figure out why you wouldnt at least stand up. it has to be partially becuase you are to young to really understand how lucky you are to be born here. and how many people have fought and died to make sure you have those freedoms. i disagree with a shitload of stuff we do here in america. i guarantee whatever you think is wrong with our country is the same everywhere. the grass isnt always greener.

She is very, very out of place. You are also somewhat, but believe me, it is not enough to condone her actions, or even actions of someone getting upset with you over it. You live in America, customs are important when being in any country, but some things you just don't have to do.

Now, I do feel it's a bit strange to say the pledge EVERY day. I feel that is exceptionally excessive. Once a week, sure, once a month, hell I'll do it, and I'm Canadian. 

Go over her head, she's a blinded immature woman...and you're clearly firm in your beliefs, so is she, but I'll bet she goes to church, and pushes Christ on other religions. If she doesn't go to church, then she must hate america by her logic since the country was founded as a Christian nation.

TJ wrote the secular bible, fucking fucks. That's the bible minus the magic. That denotes a respect for certain principles found in the book, not a devotion to the miraculous shit taken out. Christian nation he says, get outta here widdat shit.

@benjaebe: I'm dead serious this is how the conversation went. I live in Texas, so not only did I not stand for the United States pledge, I did not stand for the Texas pledge, so she must have been double pissed.

TJ wrote the secular bible, fucking fucks. That's the bible minus the magic. That denotes a respect for certain principles found in the book, not a devotion to the miraculous shit taken out. Christian nation he says, get outta here widdat shit.

Im saying just because you have the freedom (which again many people died to give you) doesnt mean you have to use it.

don't be a dick and stand up for the pledge

 I think both parties should've used better judgement in that situation. OP should have used a little better discernment and recognized that, being in a new environment where the persons around him didn't know his practices, that might cause some ruckus. He might have, just for that one time, stood up, so as not to draw attention to himself. Not saying that he could have know the teacher's reaction, just that in new surroundings, it could've been better to not be as noticed. In his original class, with the regular teacher, I'm sure that his not standing doesn't cause a problem, because it's a regular occurrence and his classmates and teacher know why.
Also, that teacher should not have confronted him in front of the entire class. If she had an issue with was he did (or, in this case did not) do, don't make a spectacle. She could have wait until class was finished, and ask - politely - why he didn't stand for the pledge(s). And then, OP could have explained himself, and that would have been that, because the next day it probably would be back to his regular classroom. Done deal.
Just sayin', everyone needs to pause and think about how your action (or inaction) will affect the situation. Not gonna pass judgement, just pointing out what could have been done to avoid a volatile deal.

The government should be loyal and respectful to me, not the other way around.

@Zithe:  it does go both ways. thats not the issue. but you cant cry like a baby when people get upset about your decisions while using your freedom. some people (like me for instance) have friends and family that died in iraq and it can ease the pain to at least feel liek they died for something and that other people care. well im going to sleep. good night

You're a douche. I'm with the teacher on this one. If you hate it so much gtfo. 

I've stopped doing the pledge at my school as well. Unless I'm in some kind of social event like a military gathering I usually never do it.

Isnt that kind of normal in the US though, that people are patriots and nationalists?

@FancySoapsMan said:

don't be a dick and stand up for the pledge

This. I from Canada but when I was in high school, our band program frequently took trips down to the US for jazz festivals and such. Pretty much every trip we would sleep/live on the band room floor of a host high school. We would normally clean up the room before school even started there but the odd time we got stuck in when they said the pledge of allegiance (usually right when the bell rang). I personally am not American nor do I have any relatives from the US but I (and everyone from my Canadian school) would stand up for the pledge. Did we put our hand over our heart, no, did we mouth the words, of course not, but we certainly showed respect for that countries customs. You should as well, even more because you are an American. It was not right for the teacher to antagonize you like that but you should show respect for your fellow classmates and country even if you are not a "fan."

Same old bullshit. Kid, show some respect.

She's an idiot .

That's a completely approprite response. You were being a complete dick. I mean, not respecting your country!? That's twisted shit. It's your freedom to be disrespectful. But you're obviously going through a rebellious teenage stage. Probably watched some Liberal Iraq war documentary or something. Most people I saw go through their "fight the man" stage, grew out of it. It offends people like me that people like you can't appreciate the sacrifices that have been made. Especially in a time of war were we have 1-3 soldiers die everyday, at least stand up. 

you dont know how easy you have it kid, show some fucking respect

Oh my god, we got 'arselves a 'Merica-hater over here! String 'im up boys!

Oh my god, we got 'arselves a 'Merica-hater over here! String 'im up boys!

Ok...now I'm Canadian so I guess that my opinion on this is kind of irrelevant...but I think that you have not only the right, but an obligation to report her.

I don't care if you say it or not but  you come off like a dick in this situation also and no ones gonna stop giving you shit if you always give smartass answers back

Also, its the fucking pledge, just stand in respect of the people around you.

As somebody trained to be a teacher, the way your teacher reacted was completely inappropriate.  There isn't really much to do about it and I wouldn't suggest complaining unless the problem continues.  If it does continue bring the issue up with the principle and if you are given any formal punishment such as suspension for not participating in the pledge I would suggest contacting the ACLU.

I don't understand why so many people are coming down on the OP in this thread as being just as bad as the teacher.  The teacher is in a position of authority and should be expected to act better than the child.  The OP was practicing his rights and if somebody has a legitimate grievance with the United States it is completely reasonable for them to abstain from standing and reciting the pledge. Its not as if there are no legitimate reasons to be upset with the government and society in the United States even if it is better than many third world countries.

As somebody trained to be a teacher, the way your teacher reacted was completely inappropriate.  There isn't really much to do about it and I wouldn't suggest complaining unless the problem continues.  If it does continue bring the issue up with the principle and if you are given any formal punishment such as suspension for not participating in the pledge I would suggest contacting the ACLU.I don't understand why so many people are coming down on the OP in this thread as being just as bad as the teacher.  The teacher is in a position of authority and should be expected to act better than the child.  The OP was practicing his rights and if somebody has a legitimate grievance with the United States it is completely reasonable for them to abstain from standing and reciting the pledge. Its not as if there are no legitimate reasons to be upset with the government and society in the United States even if it is better than many third world countries.

She should no act in that way she should respect your opinion.

You should have replied in song: