Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: Last week, after the teachers' strike, I saw a photo of schoolchildren reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. That made we wonder, are the children in the public schools allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance? I thought there was a change at one point that the kids were not allowed to say it. Don't get me wrong, I would love it if the kids recited the Pledge of Allegiance every day of the school year. Pledge of allegiance
not required in schoolAnswer: Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is strictly voluntary in all public schools, according to Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen.
In fact, it is not a "mandated practice in all schools" and, in some cases, may be determined classroom-by-classroom, he said. When a teacher or school does choose to have students recite the pledge, no child can be disciplined for not participating, he said.
Today, only half the states have laws that encourage the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in the schools.
Some background: Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, wrote the Pledge of Allegiance in August 1892. Public school children across the nation recited it later that year as part of the 400th anniversary celebration of Columbus's discovery of America.
Bellamy's original pledge was: "I pledge allegiance to my flag and (to) the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." The "to" was added in October 1892.
In 1924, the National Flag Conference changed "my flag" to "the flag of the United States of America." In 1942, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance, but in June 1943, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that schoolchildren could not be forced to recite it.
In 1954, Congress inserted the words "under God" between nation and indivisible.
Q: Why is Hawaiian Airlines asking for detailed personal information for its mileage program promotion with Star Markets? They are going beyond what should be needed, asking for our Social Security number, birth date and mother's maiden name. It's not a credit application. Plus, we're supposed to turn in the application to someone at Star, which doesn't seem to be very secure. Everyone is being warned these days to be careful about identity theft, especially about giving out personal information. I spoke with someone at Star and at Hawaiian Airlines, but I can't get a satisfactory explanation.
A: You don't have to give your Social Security number or your mother's maiden name -- doing so is strictly voluntary, according to Hawaiian Airlines spokeswoman Keoni Wagner.
The reason for asking for the personal information is to offer customers added security for a frequent flyer program that has grown considerably in value over the years, he said. "Hawaiian Miles" now can be used to purchase tour packages, rental cars and cruises, in addition to tickets on Hawaiian Airlines, he said. Customers also can get their travel awards directly at the ticket counter.
"We are trying to reduce the opportunity for fraud in our program, as well as protect the assets or miles of our members," he said.
Wagner said no personal information "is ever shared with any third party." If you choose not to give your Social Security number and mother's maiden name, you can still access your account, he said.
You also have the option of mailing the application in. The mailing address is printed on the form, Wagner said.
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com