At that age, no. And by the time I got to middle school (age 12 I think) it wasn’t a thing the school did any more.
Although if you wanna talk about brainwashing the kids… they used to do random tests of the air raid sirens (which were often located on the school rooftop). These “tests” were meant to warn us of a nuclear missile attack. If they happened while we were at school, the teachers would tell us it was a test, and we had to get under our desks; same as the earthquake drills. If they happened during summer break while you’re just out riding your bike or playing ball with your friends, you just got to ponder whether it was real or just a test. If you build that fear early, it can be very sticky.
Did you ever try not saying it?
They don’t tell you, but it’s actually optional. You get dirty looks, but they don’t actually force you to recite it. That’s just peer pressure.
At that age, no. And by the time I got to middle school (age 12 I think) it wasn’t a thing the school did any more.
Although if you wanna talk about brainwashing the kids… they used to do random tests of the air raid sirens (which were often located on the school rooftop). These “tests” were meant to warn us of a nuclear missile attack. If they happened while we were at school, the teachers would tell us it was a test, and we had to get under our desks; same as the earthquake drills. If they happened during summer break while you’re just out riding your bike or playing ball with your friends, you just got to ponder whether it was real or just a test. If you build that fear early, it can be very sticky.