Then-Vice President George Bush questioned the judgment of Democratic presidential nominee Michael S. Dukakis in 1988 for vetoing state legislation requiring teachers in Massachusetts to lead their students in the pledge. The pledge was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a socialist and former minister, to be used in schools as part of the country's observance of the 400th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the New World. Generations ago, children who failed to salute were sometimes ostracized and publicly harassed. In 1943, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jehovah's Witnesses and against West Virginia, where children had been expelled for failing to salute the flag. Several Northern Virginia educators were skeptical that requiring a pledge would do much to change the values of their students.
Patriotism is a value.
The pledge could prove a compelling issue this year. The Virginia House's 100 members are up for reelection in November. State Attorney General Mark L. Earley and Lt. Gov. John H. Hager, vying for the GOP nomination for governor, said they support the idea, although Earley added that his office was reviewing it to make sure it passed constitutional muster. Mark R. Warner, the Democratic candidate for governor, expressed concern about whether a mandatory pledge is constitutional. Staff writers R.H. Melton, David Nakamura, Tracey Reeves, Christina A. Samuels, Craig Timberg and Debbi Wilgoren contributed to this report.