Do you want your child to learn God Save the Queen at School?

[Liketochat1]

Is it important for all children at school in Britain to learn the National Anthem no matter their country of origin? Would it help integration at all? Or simply be a good way of increasing a sense of patriotism? Is it important even though so many people don't believe in God and don't support a monarchy?
Are you happy for your child to learn it? Would you like a different National Anthem?

De dum de dum de dum de dum, dumpy dumpy dye dum ........

I think 'Jerusalem' would be a good national anthem, very stirring

Religion = Gentlessness and holiness???? Don't quite think so. The opposite of religion is not an absence of all morality and decency. Some of us are capable of being decent human beings without a load of fairy tales ordering us to.

The anthem (will not give it capitals) is a murdering, Xenophobic, Imperialist and arrogant piece of outdated clap trap.

I was taught the Welsh National Anthem at school. It forms part of my national identity without a shadow of a doubt.

I think God Save the Queen is fine as the British anthem but do think it's a tad unfair that English people have to share it. I only say that because I know how proud I feel when I hear the Welsh one so it must be a bit odd I have to share God Save the Queen.

I quite like the Royals,they don't bother me in the slightest because I have more important things to worry about

I think if you're living in a country that learning their anthem would at least be courteous,especially if you intend to live there permenantly.

*odd to have to share God Save the Queen.

More like God save me from autocorrect personally!

my DC have been learning the UAE national anthem (which is played in every school, whatever the curriculum, every morning by law) in Arabic class. They sort of know "Flower of Scotland' but it did occur to me when DS was supposed to find out about his own national anthem for some school purpose that neither of them actually has a clue about GstQ - and it is a pretty dismal tune/song to try to teach. Have added it to my 'elements of home culture that I need to cram into them at some point' list.

Hippymum a few of my English friends have said they would like to adopt Jerusalem.

One suggested Imagine though :/

I don't know Jerusalem. It wasn't a popular hymn up here when I was forced went to church. Is it a CofE hymn??

Flower of Scotland has me in tears every times hear it sung, not so much for god save the queen. But I like the royals and will probably not for for outright independence should we ever be the chance.

No I bloody wouldn't! English/Christian born and bred but not a fan of the monarchy and think the NA is a sycophantic dirge.

The only time I will stand and sing along to it is at Remembrance Day services out of respect to the servicemen who fought for 'Queen & country'.

Sex Pistols, yy- I mean it, maaaaaam

I don't actually know where Jerusalem hails from... just like the dark satanic mills bit. [hgrin]

blake poem set to music by ?

we sang Jerusalem at the end of every term at the (posh) school I went to for the last two years of school. Nice song but didn't get the connection - Scottish school, majority of pupils Scottish or with Scottish connections, wearing kilts and singing about England's green and pleasant land.

Odd.

Was it gordonstoun desert??

no, strath. a long long time ago

ninah - music by Parry. Rather neglected English composer, but wrote some really lovely choral music. Jerusalem is a song rather than a hymn. He also wrote the tune for the hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, and the coronation anthem I was glad, which was sung at that wedding last year. (Ducking low to avoid republican launched missiles at this point.)

I have to agree that GSTQ is a bit of a dirge, although some of the arrangments are quite stirring (eg the Britten one with a wonderful fanfare at the beginning). I liked Billy's Archers idea too, though perhaps we should have a competition for a new one!

My point is that it is the national anthem in the absence of another, so we should know it if we are British, particularly if we are representing Britain.

Oh yes I forgot to put the AIBU bit in the title! Sorry!
There's proposals being discussed at the moment to ensure it's taught in every school. Just wondered if people would be happy with that. Quite an interesting response!

"Okay what about all the people who object to the National Anthem , the Lord's Prayer etc start their own separate schools without patriotism, any sort of holiness and gentleness no uniform, no rules, no homework, parents' evenings where parents tell the teachers how the DC are getting on :-) "

This looks to me like a jumbled array of disparate elements. Is there really any proof that monarchists are more gentle than republicans, that atheists do not like homework or that there is a connection between uniform and holiness?

Meh.

Was the national anthem not stolen from Leichtenstein in the first place or was it the other way around?

The national anthem is nothing to do with patriotism. It is about allegiance to a non-elected Head of State.

On the list of "shit I'd rather my kids didnt learn at school", its on there, but its not top of the list

No.
At guides in the summer dd1 was asked if she knew the national anthem

After 1 line of "oh flower of scotland" she got stopped.

Well, I think part of being an educated, civilised human being who knows how to behave in all circumstances is knowing at least the first couple of verses. But it's not up there with stuff I would be appalled if school didn't teach.

thanks, bach - that rings some bells from school days
weegie mum