There are few things more amazing than some of the bills that get thrown around at the beginning of the Legislative session.

Take, for instance, HB 2467, a proposed measure sponsored by seven legislators (six representatives and a senator) from around the metro Phoenix area; northern and northwestern Arizona; and more.

With such wide-ranging membership of representatives from around the state, this must be a bill of massive importance, right?

Well…take a look at the bill’s text:

BEGINNING IN THE 2013‑2014 SCHOOL YEAR, IN ADDITION TO FULFILLING THE COURSE OF STUDY AND ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER, BEFORE A PUPIL IS ALLOWED TO GRADUATE FROM A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS STATE, THE PRINCIPAL OR HEAD TEACHER OF THE SCHOOL SHALL VERIFY IN WRITING THAT THE PUPIL HAS RECITED THE FOLLOWING OATH:

I, _________, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION; AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THESE DUTIES; SO HELP ME GOD.

Yeah. An oath of loyalty to graduate high school. As if reciting the Pledge of Allegiance weekly—at least—isn’t enough for these people.

I have nothing against “solemnly swearing to uphold the Constitution,” but making this a requirement for to receive what amounts to proof that you can read and write your name (which is incredible, given our current educational rankings) cheapens the sentiment, doesn’t it?

Plus, you’re swearing that you’re taking an oath freely when you’re being coerced into taking the damn thing, again, in order to graduate. I’m pretty sure that makes the rest of the oath invalid, doesn’t it?

Brilliant work from those folks up north. For more on the bill, including the legislators who proposed it, check out the Legislature’s info page here.

This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2013.

20 replies on “Certain AZ Legislators Want High Schoolers to Recite a Loyalty Oath Before Graduating”

  7. This is the oath of allegiance to the US military except for one part about obeying all orders from the president of the United States… Based on this oath and the one that all military personnel take anyone under it can legally turn upon the legislature of this state and US congress based on the violations of constitutional rights that congress and state legislature ratify on a regular basis.

  8. It may be unconstitutional, but that’s never stopped our governor nor our state legislature (lack of capitalizing letters is indication of respect for same) from wasting state money on stupid lawsuits that are clearly unconstituional by the judgment of any 96 year old Justice of the Peace. Don’t these people EVER get tired of being on the wrong side of the Constitution?

  10. Don’t worry. They’ll use this bill as a “strike everything” bill and substitute some heinous abortion bill or some other way to subjugate women on the last day of the session.

  11. None of the sponsors of that bill are smart enough to find their own asses with both hands and a hound dog. That’s very, very sad and bad news for all of us. Meaningless crap like that is about all the AZ state legislature is capable of producing these days. Ignorant ideologues living in a bubble can’t do any better.

  12. Just once, I would love to see an idea come out of the legislature, and think to myself, “Hey, that’s a great idea. I never thought of that.”

    But no. Instead we consistently get things that are so constitutionally, morally, and legally flawed, that one begins to wonder whether any one of them finished high school.

    Is it really all that unreasonable to expect a certain amount of excellence from one’s representatives? Apparently it is.

  13. We need to clean house. Arizona’s politicians are making our state a joke, over and over again.

  14. I took an oath like this when I joined the military.. of my own volition.

    Who elects these people anyway?

  17. Oh come-on people. Don’t criticize those wonderful far right State senators and representatives. Remember, if we only listen to their wisdom, we could have every kid packing a gun. Or the tremendous insight of our wonderful governor to make it as hard as possible for the best and brightest immigrant children to contribute to our state. These people are truly visionaries! NOT – I agree with the guy who said something about finding something with both hands – Yeah, that’s more like it. I think Tucsonans need to take up residence in the neighborhoods where these crazies come from and run against them – That’s the only way we are going to get a sane and productive State Legislature –

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