In the Classroom
Simple ways teachers and students can live the pledge — together.
Make the Global Pledge in your Classroom!
Make the Global Pledge in your Classroom!
Since the late 1980s, students around the world have been saying the Global Pledge and making this a
better, healthier & safer world for all!
Common Questions about the Global Pledge
Teachers and families sometimes have questions — especially if your classroom already says another pledge. Here are a few simple answers.
Does the “Global Pledge” replace the pledge we already say in class?
No. The Global Pledge is meant to be supplemental. If your classroom chooses to say a pledge to a flag or your country, you can continue to do that. You can say the Global Pledge before or after, or at any other moment in the day.
Do we have to say the Global Pledge in front of a poster?
No. The Global Pledge can be said anytime and anywhere. You can say it to a poster, a photograph of Earth, a globe, out the window, outdoors — however you like. The important part is making the pledge and inviting friends to join you.
Do we have to say the Global Pledge at school?
No. You can say the Global Pledge at school, at home, or wherever you are. You can say it out loud, or silently to yourself.
Can our class change the words of the Global Pledge?
The special power of the Global Pledge is that people everywhere — in every time zone — can share the same promise. The wording is short and simple so it can be translated into many languages and includes all people, animals, plants, and the living world we share on Planet Earth.
How It All Started
The Global Pledge began with a simple idea, an editorial, and the encouraging voices of students who believed it could reach far beyond one classroom.
The Original Editorial
This is the college newspaper editorial that helped start it all.
Student Letters Video
Letters from the original students who wrote back and helped inspire a much bigger journey.
If the embedded video does not appear on your site, check that the YouTube video visibility allows embedding.
The Story Behind the Global Pledge
The Global Pledge began as a simple idea — a belief that if people made a sincere promise to care for our world and one another, that promise could help create something truly meaningful.
I first shared that idea in a college newspaper editorial, never imagining how deeply it would connect with students or how far it might eventually travel.
Then something beautiful happened. Students began writing to me. Their letters were thoughtful, hopeful, and full of encouragement. They believed the idea mattered. They believed people could make a difference. And in their own way, they encouraged me to keep going.
What began as one editorial and one idea started to feel like something much larger — not something that belonged only to me, but something that belonged to everyone who wanted to help make this world kinder, healthier, and safer for all.
Those students helped inspire me to pursue the pledge in a much bigger way. Their words gave me confidence, direction, and a deeper sense that this message should continue to be shared.
to make it a better, healthier and safer world for all.”
This page honors where the Global Pledge began — and the students whose support helped it grow.
Coming Next
Next we can add classroom-ready sections like:
- A 5-minute “Pledge Moment” to start the day
- Classroom discussion prompts and journaling questions
- Weekly kindness / planet-care challenges
- Printable pledge poster (multiple languages)