You see it all the time in the US. Flags wave high above the ground everywhere the eye can see, people put their hands over their hearts and pledge allegiance to it, and you’re shamed by some if you don’t. Schools don’t legally require it, but teachers aren’t punished for coercing people into it. Countries, after all, need enough of a loyal population to serve in their military, and what better way to do that than brainwash the youngest generation?
In the 1800s, Horace Mann brought to America a school model to successfully do just that. He was inspired by Prussia, which had a way of schooling designed to instill obedience and compliance. This model included everything we know today: age segregation, timed schedules, and standardized curriculum. Young people are told what to think and how to think it, and despite all the research and knowledge of the system’s history, there are many who still defend it. They say it isn’t brainwashing, but education, and people who don’t like it are overreacting. To counter this, here are a couple of examples of indoctrination today.
Table of Contents
The Pledge of Allegiance
Schools around the country say the pledge of allegiance every morning. It originally became a tradition because adults wanted to instill patriotism in citizens from a young age. Personally, my kindergarten class said it every day, and while I never went to Pre-K at that particular school it’s likely they had the four and three year olds doing this too. We were taught it was the rule; we didn’t know we could question it. But it obviously isn’t only that one place. Schools all over hardwire this rule into youth’s brains, and at first, some don’t even think about it. They’re never taught the meaning behind the pledge, yet they’re told to do it anyway. When they eventually start to question it, adults tell them it’s disrespectful to not say it. Teachers get mad when they don’t pledge, and parents will tell them they should do it even after hearing a legitimate grievance.
According to Congress’ website, a bill has been introduced in 2025 called the Promoting American Patriotism in Our Schools Act. This bill requires “local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish, maintain, and enforce policies that require federally funded public elementary and secondary schools to display the U.S. flag, educate students about the U.S. flag, and direct students and staff to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis.”
Although its goal is to direct people to pledge, the law cannot make anyone do it. However, if you’re being encouraged daily to pledge and the people around make it sound bad if you don’t, that’s not really much of a choice. It’s manipulation.
When the pledge of allegiance was first created, there was not only an oath but a salute as well. It was called the Bellamy salute, named after the man who wrote the pledge. It was first demonstrated in honor of Columbus Day and was to be done like this: “At a signal from the Principal the pupils, in ordered ranks, hands to the side, face the Flag. Another signal is given; every pupil gives the flag the military salute – right hand lifted, palm downward, to align with the forehead and close to it. Standing thus, all repeat together, slowly, ‘I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands; one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.’ At the words, ‘to my Flag,’ the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, and remains in this gesture till the end of the affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to the side.” –Francis Bellamy, Youth’s Companion.
However, this tradition disappeared when Europe began doing a similar salute during World War Two. America didn’t want to be seen as supporting Hitler, so since the two salutes looked extremely similar, schools dropped the Bellamy Salute.
Some immigrants have shared their feelings towards the pledge, saying it’s rooted in white supremacy. One person said: “…today the pledge still does not speak to me or even encourage patriotic introspection. It’s not due to a lack of appreciation for my new homeland, however. The pledge’s history is deeply rooted in nativism and white supremacy… At worst, the pledge’s disturbing history excludes countless communities, including my own family. At best, reciting the pledge has become a perfunctory exercise of rote memorization…” –Cesar Vargas
Benn Mac Stiofan said, “I think its removal is inevitable. I’ve never felt comfortable with mixing political power and religious identity. Mixing the two never seems to turn out well for religious or cultural communities, bending always in the direction of political power and threatening the rights of whichever religious or cultural community is currently out of favor.”
School Uniforms
The second example I’ll be going over is that of school uniforms. School uniforms are often seen as a way to reduce bullying and create unity, but they were also created with the intention of eliminating differences. It’s self-explanatory how this could create problems such as a lack of diversity and reinforcing gender stereotypes. Uniforms, and dress codes too for that matter, force people to adhere to the expectations of their assigned gender at birth. This disrespects gender non–conforming people, as well as men who are feminine and women who might not feel comfortable in a uniform skirt.
The law claims uniforms and dress codes do not limit freedom of expression. It says that people in school are allowed to express themselves through other mediums, even though this is clearly not so. For example, some schools will not allow certain words, topics, or hair styles. Some also don’t allow tattoos or shirts that show any skin, even if skin is only exposed when the person’s arms are raised up.
There are also many examples of stereotypes being enforced through these dress codes against women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and more. Dress code and uniform rules can include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Men being required to cut their hair to attend the school
- Not being allowed to dye your hair any non-natural color
- Women can wear earrings, but men cannot
- Women can wear nail polish, but men cannot
- Yoga pants are not allowed
There are many negative effects of school uniforms that people may not realize. For one, studies suggest they are linked to less exercise. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an hour of physical activity per day, but there is evidence that young girls don’t feel comfortable being active in uniform skirts, which could lead to them choosing to be less active.
There is also the issue of financial burdens. One of the arguments supporting uniforms is that they make everyone equal, whether you’re poor, rich, or somewhere in the middle. However, uniforms can be and often are quite expensive. They can range from $25 to $500, causing strain for low–income families.
In all, uniforms are said to help people in school, but they tend to do the opposite. They stereotype and restrict personal expression; they put unnecessary strain on families struggling with poverty. Some people believe they’re the reason for young girls not getting the exercise they need, which, considering the skirts of uniforms, seems to be a real possibility worth looking into.
Religious Indoctrination
There have been specific examples of religious indoctrination recently. Namely, the new policy of mandating Bible study in Texas public schools. Not only does this force young people into a religion they might not want to be a part of, it gives Christians who would never do something like this a bad reputation.
This is not the only time the line between Church and state has been blurred. Oklahoma did the same thing as Texas. Louisiana wanted a law to be passed where the ten Commandments must be displayed in schools. There was also a lawsuit against the school board in 2023; Oklahoma wanted to create the first “religious public charter school” which would’ve forced taxpayers to fund religion. The school also would’ve discriminated against characteristics such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and non Catholic religions, even going as far as to punish students for being LGBTQIA+.
This is a problem because it forces a religion onto non–Christian students, which is against the 1st amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Even some Christians have an unfavorable opinion on this: “Non-Christians aren’t going to become Christians because their teacher was forced to read some scripture against everybody’s will,” says one person going by the name rices4212 online. And this is true. If Christianity is shoved down people’s throats, some will find themselves less drawn to it than they would’ve been otherwise.
Another internet user, Waiting4better, said “I’m a Christian, and I had this talk years ago with someone else who is a believer. He wanted only the Bible to be taught in schools. I said, ‘Find me one verse where Jesus forced someone to worship him.’ He said, ‘I can’t.’ I said, ‘Then follow his example.’”
All in all, Brainwashing techniques seem to be common here in America. They’ll say it’s not brainwashing, but if we replaced youth with any other group of people, the Prussian school model would’ve been banned decades ago. I’m not saying we shouldn’t educate ourselves; we should certainly know how the world works and how to communicate with one another. However, the Prussian school model is not the way to do it. Research and history show it was made to indoctrinate, yet we still use it. We need to find another model and take the government out of our learning, otherwise we’ll never get better as a society.
The National Youth Rights Association
If you’re interested in Youth Rights, consider volunteering with us. We are always looking for new members and would love to have you on board. If you have a personal story to share, of how your school used indoctrination, or about a general youth rights violation, consider sending us an email at nyra@youthrights.org. We’d love to help get your story out to the world.
The text of How the American Public School System Uses Indoctrination © 2026 by Grace Tellini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
