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What does patriotism mean, and what makes someone a good leader? This week on The Children’s Hour, bilingual eighth graders from Washington Middle School explore the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance, DACA, and the American flag. Then, fourth graders from Adobe Acres Elementary share their thoughts on what leadership looks like. Tune in for a powerful conversation led by kids about justice, unity, and standing up for what’s right.
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.



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.
Please note: not all songs heard on The Children’s Hour can be found in Spotify.
Patriotism And Leadership
title | artist | album | duration | label |
---|---|---|---|---|
Whose Flag? (feat. Chris Wagoner & Lynette Margulies) | Stuart Stotts | Whose Flag? (feat. Chris Wagoner & Lynette Margulies) - Single | 02:41 | 2020 1781933 Records DK |
State Laughs | Tom Chapin | Moonboat | 02:53 | 2009 Gadfly Records |
Reveille Variation: Drum Call / Slow Scotch / Quick Scotch / Yankee Doodle / Montezuma's Revenge | The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps | 4th of July | 02:17 | 2014 Patriotic Music Unlimited |
Slow Dial | Blue Dot Sessions | Cauldron | 02:00 | 2018 Blue Dot Sessions |
Bom Jardim | Lobo Loco | COLORES OF LIFE | 01:45 | Lobo Loco - CC |
Slow Slow Sky | Blue Dot Sessions | Feathers - EP | 00:36 | 2015 Blue Dot Sessions |
Lakota Procession | Lakota George | Flute Man | 00:52 | Lakota George |
Esta Es Tu Tierra | Sonia De Los Santos | Mi Viaje: De Nuevo Leon To the New York Island | 02:45 | 2015 Festival Five Records |
This Land Is Your Land | Arlo Guthrie & Woody Guthrie | Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America | 01:35 | This compilation (P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. |
This Land Is Also Mine | Sonia De Los Santos | Esperanza | 03:18 | 2021 Golondrina |
That Old American Flag | Billy Kelly | The Family Garden | 03:15 | 2011 Billy Kelly |
No Token, No Milk | Keith Munslow | Dressed Up for the Party | 00:20 | 2007 Needlenose Music |
God Bless My Underwear | Hans Mayer | See You Later Alligator | 01:42 | 2010 Myther Music |
America the Beautiful | Keb' Mo' | Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America | 03:34 | This compilation (P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. |
I Hear America Singing (feat. 123 Andres) | Red Yarn | I Hear America Singing (feat. 123 Andres) single | 3:57 | 2018 Fonovisa Records, Under exclusive license to Fonovisa Records, a division of Univision Music LLC. |
Song of Freedom | Peter Lenton and Friends | Proud Like a Mountain (Deluxe Version) | 01:22 | 2010 Peter Jonathan Lenton |
Mah-Na, Mah-Na | Leroy Holmes | Ultra-Lounge, Vol. Eighteen: Bottoms Up! (Remastered) | 00:29 | This Compilation 1997 Capitol Records, LLC |
Until You're Free (feat. SaulPaul & 123 Andres) | Alphabet Rockers | The Love | 03:19 | 2019 School Time Music LLC |
What Is a Leader? (feat. Rani Arbo & Some Smart Kids) | Alastair Moock | Be a Pain - An Album for Young (And Old) Leaders | 02:40 | 2020 Alastair Moock |
We Came to America | Flor Bromley | Fiesta Global | 03:17 | 2020 Flor Bromley |
Fireworks | The Laurie Berkner Band | Superhero | 01:09 | 2016 Two Tomatoes Records, LLC., Distributed by Razor & Tie Recordings via Concord Music Group, Inc. |
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