To not want ds singing the bloody national anthem every day at school?

[lecce]

I am reeling about this and would love some opinions.

Last night the dc and I were taking it turns to play songs on Youtube, when ds1 (7, Yr 3) announced he wanted 'Land of Hope and Glory' for his next choice . I was stunned - I didn't even know he'd heard of it. In the interrogation that followed, it transpired that his class has been singing 'God Save the Queen' every day before home time. It has no relation to their current topic, which is India, of all things... Mention has been made of 'loving our country' and that, as 'we are English' we should know these lyrics.

On Friday, those who had completed their art work early were given the lyrics of 'Land of...' (not ds - never have I been so happy about his lack of artistic talent) but, apparently, they will all be 'doing' it soon.

I absolutely do not want my children singing these nationalistic, jingoistic lyrics every day. I don't want the school promoting this kind of cheap patriotism to them, either. This is not what education is about.

Is this Gove's fault? I am a teacher (sec) and have heard nothing about this particular type of brainwashing. AIBU to kick up a stink about this?

that God exists (rather than as a concept in historical context),
You say that in such a matter of fact way, leaving no room for doubt. You obviously believe that but many do believe.Surely we should never say to our children "God doesn't exist" , it's for them to make their own minds up not blindly accept what we tell them.

Lyrics

Solo
Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned,
God make thee mightier yet!
On Sov'ran[3] brows, beloved, renowned,
Once more thy crown is set.
Thine equal laws, by Freedom gained,
Have ruled thee well and long;
By Freedom gained, by Truth maintained,
Thine Empire shall be strong.

Chorus
Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet,
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

Solo
Thy fame is ancient as the days,
As Ocean large and wide:
A pride that dares, and heeds not praise,
A stern and silent pride;
Not that false joy that dreams content
With what our sires have won;
The blood a hero sire hath spent
Still nerves a hero son

Please highlight examples of jingoism, though I see no agressive domestic policy myself Nationalism:

The strong belief that the interests of a particular nation-state are of primary importance. Also, the belief that a people who share a common language, history, and culture should constitute an independent nation, free of foreign domination. I neither see examples of this, or what is wrong with it.

You do however, appear to implying that there a sinister intentions behind this e.g. racism or fascism? That's your issue. Not the schools. BTW 'English' is not synonymous with white. It's quite offensive that you think it is to be honest.

YABVVVU

Please highlight examples of jingoism

For starters:
"Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet"

Expansionist jingoism.

"Ooops, sorry. English aren't allowed to do anything remotely 'English' anymore. We have to call ourselves British.

Said who when? I must have missed that particular edict. Can you point me to the relevant piece of legislation"

interestingly immigrants doing the 'Britishness' test are actually taught that there is no such thing as 'English' or certainly seem to have got hold of that end of the stick.

Eh?? It's about God's expansion, not the nation.

no Marmite it really isn't , it is about colonial expansion. IMO>

It's about the country's expansion, the "land" being the subject of that verse.

Er, no, I think it's about the nation's expansion, actually. Never mind the mention of Empire...

Crikey, multiple x-posts there!

Nope, Marmite, it's asking God to make 'the Land' mightier and expand its boundaries.

Since when is a song part of National policy though? That's what jingoism is. I always thought it was about God and Jerusalem in the abstract sense, which would be colonial anyway, but jingoism is the wrong word I think.

It's jingoistic because it relates to jingoism, reflective of the political climate at the time it was written (just after the Boer war, etc).

"Jingoism - Extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy".

Which is something a lot of people don't think it's good to shout about anymore, and why the lyrics can be said to be inappropriate.

What word would you use, Marmite?

Smell the glove is here, hello Janine.

I agree, believing that God looks particularly favourably on your nation or he considers them special or chosen in some way or that he intercedes favourably on your country's behalf is a common feature of nationalist rhetoric.

You're the first person ever to 'get' my user-name Compos

for you

Thank you. Even if you do dress like an Australian's nightmare.

"However since the labour party introduced PC in its extremes , then the country has become totally fucked up over this and people are frightened of saying/ doing something that could be deemed as racist, zenophobic, etc"

Ooh, what would you like to say or do that you are frightened to say or do? Go on, tell us! I can't wait to hear!

But I can sort out your cosmic shambles of a life.

Well I have been using bits and pieces of whatever eastern philosophy would drift through my transom.

Are you a Socialist OP?

I just need to record myself in Dubly, bear with me.

Well I can tell your larynx sounds fat.

I havent RTFT but...

...am i the only one singing the Sex Pistols version in my head?!

but Janine does the amplifier go up to 11?

Shush, I have to work on my bouquerias.

Incidentally, has anyone spotted my ExDH in Better Call Saul? His life is cosmically a shambles again.

I've not, it isn't on regular TV is it? But I imagine he'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation.