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?

Exactly fluffling. I think we're supposed to start every sentence with, "I'm terribly sorry for being English, but do you have the time please?"

In the interrogation that followed, so you questioned your 7 year old quite intensely about a song sung before home time?, it's not interrupting lessons is it?.

Are you making him anxious?

Cheesecakemom - I'm willing to bet that most people who have a problem with God still manage to celebrate Christmas and Easter!!!!

Double standards or what???

I believe in God so do not mind the God bit, it is the Queen bit I object to.

raltheraffe - in the National Anthem the queen represents the figurehead of our nation. Hence, when she dies the National Anthem will just substitute the word "queen" with "King" - a representation of us all.

The anthem is about us all (our nation) not just one person.

I guess the other issue is I am not too keen on England but am stuck here until I can get enough money together to leave.

well when it changes I will have the opportunity to object to the king bit if I still live here

No brain washing here! Yet, you are amazed and feel it must be a joke that someone may have different experiences from yours, and may not be happy with this. Riiight .

Well doubt you will get very far with the teacher.... You'll just become one if those parents

I agree with you, OP.

As Raven said up thread, I will support my child to make her own religious, political and ethical choices as long as she understands and respects the choices of others. I hope and expect that she will strongly defend anyone's right to be able to follow their faith,( as I do. )

As a republican atheist, I would actually just like to have my beliefs afforded the same respect, once in a while.

It's bad enough that schools aren't allowed to be secular without them starting to push royalist dogma as well. Why can't schools just educate the children?

Home school him if you're so upset and outraged.

Will you?

raltheraffe Sat 15-Nov-14 21:54:24
Imagine the uproar if they brought in compulsory singing of a Muslim song about Allah in British schools.
So why should people be forced to sing this tripe?

Because it's the National Anthem. Please save hard.

*Home school him if you're so upset and outraged.

Will you?*

The weirdly aggressive comments on here are truly mind-boggling. I am the sole-earner in my household, so, no, despite my concerns, I will not be doing that (and would never wish to anyway). What on earth is that supposed to prove? That I am a hypocrite?

Hmm - I'm Scottish by birth and from a multi-national background and I can't see what the issue is with a child learning the National Anthem of his country (ie the UK). Or indeed Land of Hope and Glory, with music composed by Elgar. A rather famous composer.

Put LOH&G into a historical context for him - but don't get hysterical about it.

Let your DS participate and be proud of his heritage, part of which is living in England.

Has your son said he is bothered? He is the one singing it.

I am a teacher. I believe, despite it's short-comings, school is a good place to be for the majority of children and young people. Why the fuck would I/should I withdraw my child from that on the basis of one policy that I am not happy with?

Honestly, I'd be willing to remove my child from a school for shit like making him sing the fucking national anthem daily. I strenuously object to jingoistic shite like that.

Also, having grown up in a catholic family in glasgow, God save the queen doesn't represent lovely 'british values' to me. Far from it.

It sounds like your child is enjoying singing LOHAG because it is quite rousing. Like KatieKaye said, give him the historical context to it. Let him make up his own mind and accept that perhaps he will have different views from yours. he is 7 for crying out loud! Let him enjoy being a child and singing different songs (and repetition every day helps learning) and worry about his patriotism or your lack thereof when he is older.

Apologies for the rogue apostrophe above .

Yanbu op. I would raise it with the school.

Just out of interest (and sorry if you've already said) but what category of school is it? Private/state/c of e/something else?

What 'policy'??

YANBU
The Queen does not need children across the land begging God to save her.
Astonished at the responses here OP!