"a solid foundation"

ok, help me out, guys... did you guys have to say the pledge of allegiance every day in school when you were little??!?!??!?! you wouldn't believe the stuff i've learned about the US since i got here... whether it's true or not, it's in the textbooks! and i quote, "every morning before classes begin in america's schools, pupils stand together with their classmates, put their right hand over their heart and recite: i pledge allegiance to the flag..." they claim, of course, that the kids have no idea what it means, but the "symbolic act of standing up together, facing the stars and stripes and chanting in a prayer-like rhythm the same thing every day makes reverence for the flag an unquestioned absolute in their minds"... what!?!?!? i mean, sure, in first grade, once a week, usually monday mornings, but really... did you guys have to do this??!?!?! seriously, in half of the classes i've been to, this has been a topic of interest. they all want to know if we really have to say the pledge, and do you have to say it if you don't like america, etc. it's hilarious. so really. i'm dying to know!!