<It is *always* compulsory when a 6 year old is told by an adult to memorize and recite this verse. The 6 year old does not have the machinery, yet, to decide whether it's something they want to do or not. Nor to stand up to a teacher, if the child decides it's not what they want to do.

A six-year-old has no business "deciding" what he wants to do or not, particularly in politics. Six-year-olds have brains that are about 85 percent brain fart. Six-year-olds (and I've raised a couple) need to be told what to do pretty much 24-7, and almost everything they are taught is because some adult "made" them learn it. Sorry, but "compulsory" pretty much defines their day in school and out of it. You can bet they would prefer not to have to learn multiplication tables either.

If a kid this age is objecting to the Pledge, you can bet your bottom dollar it is because one or more of his "progressive" parents has drilled the idea into him.

Now, a 12-year-old, or a 15-year-old would be a different kettle of fish, but they are still far from being mature enough to make all their own decisions.