A Step Too Far?

**EDIT. OK, so it's not children, just teenagers, but most of what I said still stands!**

As you should all know, I'm an ardent Royalist. I believe a constitutional monarchy provides a good balance between tradition, patriotism and democracy.

However, something inside me recoils at the idea of children having to pledge allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen and to this country. I think children should NOT be made to pray in schools, let alone be forced to pledge allegiance to a monarch and country they still do not have the knowledge or reasoning skills to fully understand.

An oath is not something that should be entered into lightly. Teaching a child that an oath is just a run of the mill event that all must partake in, lessens the value of such oaths.

I think our leader says it best...

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said there were "far better ways" of creating a sense of belonging for teenagers than asking people to swear allegiance to Queen and country.

"People should not feel that being British is about swearing allegiance - it should be about taking an active role in society," he said.