Letters on the Iowa national anthem bill: 'Mandatory warbling' won't build patriotism
On national anthem bill, hard to choose between laughter and disgust
Picture this scenario: Middle school students stand at attention and either sing or maintain a “respectful silence” during these words of the national anthem:
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave…
House Study Bill 587 would require all public school students to sing the entire national anthem on “patriotic occasions” and perhaps before all school-sponsored events. I vacillate between doubling over with laughter and recoiling with disgust as I imagine the consequences of this bill passing.
Thankfully, our public school teachers are far more competent teaching history and “patriotism” than are the legislators at our State Capitol. Legislators should stay in their lane.
Asta Twedt, Ankeny
Have YOU tried singing the national anthem?
So, now we’re going to have social studies teachers teach the national anthem in the state of Iowa? I’m a retired music teacher. “The Star-Spangled Banner” is one of the most difficult songs to sing, and it is developmentally inappropriate to expect young kids to sing it (or understand the lyrics). We have all witnessed singers who cannot manage the range and change keys in the middle of the song so they can “hit” the high notes, who change the meter from 3 to 4, and who forget the words! And, if you want all four verses to be sung and understood, the social studies teachers will have to talk about topics our legislators don’t want them to discuss.
If the goal is teaching patriotism, may I suggest this: Let these students see you lawmakers begin to work for the common good. Let them see democracy in action. Let them see that government doesn’t have to be the enemy.
Stop the partisan antics that do nothing to make us proud to live in Iowa. Our kids see lawmakers fighting about obscenity and “grooming” in schools (which makes me wonder what schools these lawmakers are visiting). Lawmakers dictate their curriculum, leaving the professional teachers out of every conversation. Legislators hate on students’ LGBTQ friends, won’t even consider reasonable gun legislation, and won’t show up in the rotunda when students have well-planned rallies about important, timely issues. Students are aware of the separate, and unequal rules, for public schools.
Having mandatory singing of the national anthem every day is NOT going to make these students patriotic. Having students actually see Iowa legislators hammering out bipartisan legislation that makes Iowa a better state for everybody, has a much better chance of promoting patriotism.
Jean Swenson, Waukee
Let’s hear all those lawmakers sing
I suggest an amendment to House Study Bill 587 "which would require all teachers and students at Iowa schools to sing at least one verse of the national anthem each day," according to the Register: All members of the Iowa House and Senate shall be required to be present and to participate in singing one verse of the national anthem each day the Iowa Legislature in session. (No participants will be allowed to wear noise-canceling headphones during the singing.)
Dorothy Lifka, Des Moines
Routine of anthem and pledge builds pride
I don’t think the House Study Bill 587 goes far enough. It is my opinion that only singing one verse of the national anthem defeats the purpose of exposing the students to this patriotic tribute.
When I was in elementary school both the anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance were part of a daily routine. And to this day, when I attend a sporting event where the colors are presented and the anthem is sung, I get a special feeling of pride for my country and for the millions of military service people who fought for our rights.
Stu Bassman, West Des Moines
Students already understand the gravity of the anthem
What are they putting in the Kool-Aid in the Statehouse cafeteria that has inspired the Legislature to propose singing the national anthem every day in public schools? Do they believe that public school students are not patriotic enough?
Throughout my 42 years as a high school band director, my band students performed the national anthem at nearly every high school sporting event, provided music for Memorial Day remembrances, played taps at graveside military services, and at numerous other patriotic events without receiving nor expecting recognition, but rather it was “just part of their job” as band students. The same could be said for choir students. My experience was the same for every other Iowa public school.
Students were well aware of the seriousness of such activities then and I’m sure that awareness carries on today throughout all public schools. It seems that not requiring private schools sends a rather mixed message. Are private school students patriotic enough already? The Iowa Legislature needs to stop wasting time proposing short-sighted and ill-informed legislation, begin addressing the real needs that affect all Iowans, and actually do meaningful work.
Phil DeLong, Indianola
Singing won’t make people more patriotic
One more nit-picky requirement for public (but not private!) schools – daily required singing of the national anthem. Speaking as a retired secondary teacher, I have questions. What if it is not sung? Do they fail “national anthem” and cannot graduate? What if it is not sung well?
Do we discipline them? Kick them out of school? Is it put on their permanent record? I am at a loss to see the logic of how this mandatory warbling promotes patriotism. I always felt that our country stood for freedom, not forced, lock-step submission of will. Singing the national anthem no more exhibits patriotism than wearing those little, made-in-China, American flag lapel pins. If you have to have an outward sign to demonstrate your love of country, you probably aren’t much of a patriot.
Barbara Persoon, Pleasantville
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Daily 'Star-Spangled Banner' at Iowa schools? What readers are saying:
