If children don't stand, it is because they have been told not to by their parents. Often, for religious reasons.
The kids don't need to be the rope in this tug-of-war.
And I am not a big fan of mandatory loyalty oath recitation as part of the educational curriculum. Especially with the addition of the religious part that was added during the Army-McCarthy hearings.
Been there, done that, ostracized for obeying my parents and the church. Good times.