Patriotism and Leadership

What does the Pledge of Allegiance really mean? And what makes someone a great leader? On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we explore patriotism and leadership with bilingual eighth graders from Washington Middle School and fourth graders from Adobe Acres Elementary in Albuquerque. These students share powerful insights about what it means to love your country, and why some people protest the pledge while others embrace it. Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/patriotism-leadership We learn about the words in the Pledge of Allegiance and how different groups understand patriotism in unique ways. From DACA recipients and the history of the flag to peaceful protests and the struggles for equality, these middle schoolers reflect on what freedom and justice for all truly look like. Then, fourth graders describe the traits of a good leader, including kindness, fairness, bravery, and honesty—naming heroes from history and today, like Malala, Barack Obama, and Martin Luther King Jr. This show also includes a short history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the reasons it has changed over time. We think about what it means to take a stand—or a knee—for the things you believe in, and how young people can be leaders in their own communities by learning, listening, and speaking out. Katie Stone, is our Executive Producer and Host. This episode also included production help from Marcy Krivonen, Sarah Gabrielli, and Thaniel Lentz. Many thanks to Albuquerque Public Schools teachers Allison Hawks at Washington Middle School and Christina Rincon at Adobe Acres Elementary for sharing their brilliant students’ work with us. The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour, Inc., a New Mexico nonprofit, and is distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network. © 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All rights reserved.