By DAVE DONLEY
Under a new “Patriotic Activities” policy adopted by the Anchorage School Board, no patriotic activities of any kind are mandated to occur in Anchorage schools other than the Pledge of Allegiance which is mandated by state law. Although some patriotic days and activities are mentioned none are mandated to be recognized. Pearl Harbor Day Dec. 7 and Sept. 11 are not mentioned at all.
The result is that an ASD student could attend every class of every day of the school year and never hear the National Anthem or Alaska Flag Song played.
Of particular concern to me during the process was public testimony and Board Member comments that a district-wide policy would be inappropriate because patriotic activities, such as the National Anthem, might be offensive to the students at certain public schools.
In March 2023, I sponsored a School Board resolution to adopt new patriotic activities within Anchorage schools. Board Policy 6115 stated:
“The School Board encourages activities that instill pride in our country. The Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited, or patriotic exercises conducted on a regular basis as determined by the School Board.” Unfortunately, not all Anchorage schools were saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Board had rejected my past efforts to adopt additional “patriotic exercises.”
My Resolution 146 would have had schools recognize Veteran’s Day, Sept. 11, 2001, and Pearl Harbor Day by playing the National Anthem sometime during the school day. Additionally, Juneteenth and Independence Day would be recognized during the last week of the school year by reading two sentences from the beginning of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Declaration of Independence over school speaker systems.
Further, on Constitution Day, the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States would be read over the public address system or at a school-wide assembly. Constitution Day is a federal holiday, and federal law requires public schools to recognize it as a condition of federal funding. ASD had no policy requiring this and various schools do various Constitution-related activities. Finally, the resolution called for schools to play the National Anthem and “Alaska’s Flag” at least once a month at some time during a school day.
In March 2023, Resolution 146 was referred to the School Board’s Governance Committee. The committee requested a report from the administration on current patriotic activities and held multiple meetings. Over the next year and some months, the committee adopted multiple amendments, and the administration recommended the adoption of an amended resolution. In April 2024, after the municipal election, the committee moved the resolution back to the full School Board with a recommendation of adoption.
At the May 21 meeting, after over a year in committee, Member Margo Bellamy moved to send the resolution back to committee and the board voted 5-2 to do so. Member Bellamy offered no specific reason and made no suggestions for changes. Member Andy Holleman, the new board President, joined me in voting against returning the resolution to committee. The only board member to offer any suggested changes was Member Kelly Lessens, who had drafted language that additional instruction be provided to students about the significance of these holidays. I supported that additional language, but she did not offer it prior to the resolution’s return to committee.
At the August 29 meeting of the School Board Governance Committee, my resolution was replaced by a much watered-down version. Other than complying with state law mandating the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance, the new version mandated no other patriotic activities and did not recognize 9/11 or December 7.
The new resolution version was considered at the October 1, School Board meeting. I offered five amendments to restore:
1. Playing the National Anthem once a month;
2. Playing the Alaska Flag Song once a month;
3. Playing the national anthem on Veteran’s Day, Sept. 11, and Dec. 7;
4. Reading the introduction to the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation once during the school year; and
5. Reading the preamble of the U.S. Constitution on Constitution Day.
Three of my amendments failed without a second. Two were seconded but rejected by a majority vote. Although disappointed, I voted for the final version because it is better than the former policy and it was approved.
I am pleased to report that with passage of the final version, all ASD schools are at least now saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.
Former Senator Dave Donley served 16 years in the Alaska Legislature, is in his third and final term on the Anchorage School Board and has twins in public high school. This comment is from Donley as an individual and not on behalf of the Anchorage School Board or Anchorage School District.
I will assume the offended ones would be the immigrant population, legal or otherwise. This offends me, a born and raised American whose father served in WW2. Anyone that wishes to come here needs to adapt to our history, our culture, our celebrations and all that go with it. If not, they have a country they can return to and have their own. Damn the school board!!!!!
Agreed.
With the election of President Trump, there will be massive Liberal Marxist push back to efforts to restore national pride in observance of long held traditions: playing the national anthem, the state song, U.S. flag observance, pledge of allegiance, et al. The Marxist agenda is to separate children from the founding principles of our nation & parental authority. With the impending reform of the Department of Education, the responsibility for childhood education will be returned to the states. Local citizens, parents & educators will all have an equal say in the future direction of that educational process & programs. Everyone should participate.
Parents get your kids out of Anchorage school district unless you wanted to grow up and become communist.
Last time I looked this was America. If people don’t like the way we do things or celebrate things and they can move to another country. There’s 180 some of them to choose from don’t like America get out.
Alaska has changed so much over the decades….not so much for the good.
Take a look at the ASD school calendar.
They have quietly removed our most precious holidays and renamed them!!! They are systematically wiping out our American culture! Parents should be extremely worried about what is happening behind closed doors at our schools! If any of our public schools ever make parents feel unwelcome, something is wrong!!!
Anchorage voters got who they voted for…
As a late 60’s era graduate of the ASD system, I whole heartedly agree with Board Member Donely and his
position on this issue. We need several more members with similar views to hopefully turn the District around.
Big surprise that MAGA cult state is upset about not pushing nationalism on their children.
“Don’t indoctrinate our kids!” Is such a projection. Those same kids are forced to church and to believe in a country that elects criminals to lead them without a choice. Sounds like indoctrination to me.
So it is okay for ASD to teach my child about sexual preference, pronouns and CRT, but celebrating July 4th or Christmas is “indoctrination”?
You clearly know very little about cultural literacy that binds a society together.
Share customs (pledge of allegiance, national anthem, history of July 4, 1776, Dec 7, 1941 or Sept 11 2001) establish a respect for the country, the opportunities and freedoms it provides, while shared holidays support the fabric of a stable and peaceful co-existence.
It should further be pointed out that PARENTS are in charge of their children, not teachers. It is parental privilege and responsibility to pass on their values to their children. The school district should reflect that. What kids do with those experiences when they are adults is their choice.
I strongly recommend that you learn a bit of history (and not the 1619 revisionist kind). See that this nation has struggled and overcome many issues. Learn about real “nationalism” not your misinterpretation of culture.
Last but not least, I assume you voted, so YOU had a choice.
Isn’t this how democracy works?
Or is it only democracy when your preferred candidate wins?
(yes I KNOW we have a representative republic!!)
Wow, take a chill pill, get a job, save your money and move to Venezuela
What is wrong with nationalism?
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I would be very interested to know what you think nationalism is, and why it is a problem. Please share with us your opinion. I am honestly interested.
I’m offended by these school board members! If we don’t have pride in ourselves we won’t have self-respect!
If you want to educate your children DO NOT SEND THEM TO PUBLIC SCHOOL!! It is already awful enough that we have to pay most of our taxes to support this cesspool.
Mr. Donley is the only true working light bulb on the school board.
Agree with Tiffany. Dave is a true hero to normal families in Anchorage.
Let’s “Patriotically take their salaries and put them in a volunteer basis only.” Patriotically, of course!
Dave,
My family and I thank you for continuing to fight the good fight on our behalf.
It is not easy being the, more often than not, lone voice of common sense at the school board.
We appreciate your continued vigilence for all our kids and their future.
Dave,
Thank you for your patriotism and persistence. Much appreciated.
If they are worried about offending people, let me say for the record that I am deeply offended that the kids don’t hear the National Anthem and recite the Pledge of Allegiance at least once per week. If kids want to opt out for religious reasons, I have no objection. If they want to opt out because of Marxist parents, BLM, Antifa, or some other stupid reason, they can stand there and listen respectfully, or have their keisters kicked. When I was a kid, we celebrated Washington’s Birthday, Lincoln’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas…. I wasn’t hurt a bit, but it helped to make me who I am, a good citizen.
The Pledge of Allegiance is recited daily. It is Alaska State Law.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written by a socialist minister Francis Bellamy so it’s a rather controversial subject.
Why?
From my limited reading the first version was written by a Union Army Captain George Thatcher Balch in 1885. The version by Francis Bellamy celebrated the 400th anniversary of Columbus arriving in America. Francis seems to have been an enterprising young guy, managing to convince President Harrison to declare Columbus Day in 1892 celebrating with a recitation of his pledge.
What does him being a socialist (whatever that meant in 1892) have to do with anything.
Here is his original pledge:
“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Considering that the nation just survived a bloody civil war 30 years prior, pledging to support the nation’s unity, liberty and justice seems a pretty decent thing to do.
I do not see it as controversial at all. I do not care who wrote it, or what their political affiliation is.
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Loving one’s country is something to be proud of.
It would be interesting to know if ASD receives funding from the military bases to provide educational facilities for the children of the military personnel. If so could they lose that funding plus how does the base commander feel about this?
Although Alaska is a resource state. Anchorages’ existence is directly related to JBER.
When did having pride in your country become offensive?
About the same time the globalists started having undue influence on public opinion.
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Sorry, but if my country offends you, too bad. Grow up, put on your big girl panties, and deal with it.
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And, why does the school board think they are the people responsible for ensuring no one is ever offended? Who gave that responsibility to them?