Here in the U.S., schoolchildren begin their day at school by saying the Pledge of Allegiance (with the words "under God" as upheld by the Supreme Court) and singing at least one patriotic song - usually "America", the one that begins "My country tis of thee..." and borrowed the melody from "God Save the King/Queen". What do kids in Canada do? There's no pledge of allegiance that I know of that says something like "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the 13 provinces of Canada and to the Dominion for which it stands...". Do they just sing "O Canada" or "The Maple Leaf Forever"? If the latter, which version do they sing - the original one or the new one? Funny, but I don't know all that many Canadian patriotic songs other than those two. Could some American ones be adapted? You could change "God Bless America" to "God Bless Our Canada" - changing only those words in the lyrics and leaving the rest of the song untouched. How about a folk song like "This Land Is Your Land, This Land is my land, from Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island...". I'm not sure that Irving Berlin or Woody Guthrie would have appreciated that! Anyway, how does a kid in Canada start his or her day at school? What are your thoughts about Canadian patriotic songs? Let me hear from ya! Write away!
Don't know about Canada, but in Australia they wander into class and get on with it. No songs, no oaths. Some might sing the national anthem at the weekly school assembly.
When I was at school we just did a roll call and then went to lessons. Certainly no pledges or singing national anthems. I don't think anyone knows the national anthem beyond the first verse (in fact I doubt most people even know there is more than one verse). Curiously the law states that there has to be some kind of religious instruction every day at English schools, it's just that pretty much every single school ignores it.
I attended 9th and 10th grade in Ontario and we had to sing O Canada every morning. There was to much peer pressure to bow out because I was Texan.
Really? Until about my junior high school years (here in California) we just said the Pledge of Allegiance in the morning and then went on with the rest of the day - but we didn't sing anything afterward. During my high school years, though, we generally just started the day without any pledging or singing. There also wasn't any pledging or singing in any college/university class I ever attended. But I'm not sure how it is in school now, as I've been out of school a long time (I'm old ). -G
I don't think a lot here (especially older people) even know the first verse of our - or really care. The whole anthem singing thing always seems very American to me. Whenever ours is played at a sporting event or whatever most people just shuffle their feet and look around nervously wishing it was finished.
I don't know where y'all went to school, but I haven't been required to say the Pledge of Alligence since the 4th grade. We certainly never sang anything on a regular basis.
I remember my 1st grade teacher having us sing "God Bless America", but other than that no singing. The Pledge of Allegiance went from 1st grade through around 5th grade, which is probably the latest you can get kids to say it without asking too many questions.
I know your anthem (and this is by heart!): Australians all, let us rejoice! For we are young and free We've golden soil and wealth for toil Our home is girt by sea Our land abounds in nature's gifts of beauty rich and rare In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia Fair In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia Fair!
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross, we'll toil with hearts and hands To make this Commonwealth of ours renowned of all the landsFor those who've come across the sas, we've boundless plains to share With courage let us all combine To Advance Australia Fair In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia Fair! That was again by heart - and I am NOT kidding! May I be struck dead as a doornail if I am lying.
I was only in Oz once - on a layover on my way to NZ for the '99 U-17 World Cup. I stayed in Sydney and was put up by the tour people in (ugh!) Kings Cross! I was at a screening of the AFL Grand Final several weeks earlier here in New ork and I sang the Aussie anthem along with everyone else in the bar (again, by heart - they didn't distribute lyrics or anything!) andan Aussie lady told me "we should nominate you for citizenship!". So I guess I'm an honorary Aussie! I made up a version of AAF thatrelates to Aussie Rules. It's nothing offensive - but I'm not sure that the Australian people would apreciate having the anthem set to lyrics as such - even if it is the favorite sport in Victoria, South Australia, and W.A.! I want to come back to Oz to see all the sports like Aussie Rules, both codes of rugby, soccer (of course!), and perhaps even some cricket! I hope to do so someday.
At my school we don't sing anything. We just go straight to classes. On a different note, I've always like "america" better than "the star spangled banner"
What school is this and where is it? In Berkeley? It might be high school where very few homerooms (this was the case when I was in HS) did the Pledge. Nobody sang anything and my intent is to see what younger kids in Canada were asked to say and/or sing at the start of the school day. I was hoping for some reponses from north of the border and am not getting any. Maybe I should post a link to this thread in the Canada area. Some people don't like the Star Spangled Banner - at least not its lyrics. Some want the national anthem changed to "America The Beautiful". But I am wondering if people today know the anthem because I don't think that it ios shown on many sporting events anymore - unless it's the Super Bowl. And the Anthem and the Pledge should not be parroted - but people should be aware of WHAT they are saying or singing and WHY they are doing so!
I thought they began it by pledging allegiance to the American flag. Or they'll start doing it, if they know what's good for them.
what i wonder is if im the only one who finds it a bit unsettling that most kids, at least through thier elementary years, have to do the pledge of allegance, and thats at very least. i guess calling them hitler-jugend is a bit much, so we refer to them as school children.