Occasionally, I've had a student not stand for the pledge, and when the teacher told the parent, the parent was very upset and the next day the student was standing.

A parent gives life, but as parent, gives no more. A murderer takes life, but his deed stops there. A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.

If I were a parent and someone told me my kid was going to go there, I'd be hesitant, as well. But it's going to be dramatically different nine months from now, and 21 months from now.

In that case, I do not return the phone to the student. The parent has to come [and get it].

It puts them in a very precarious position. They know when they take the pledge that it's not in the public's interest.

you may have a regime; you may not.